The StoWicks Conversations
by
Seth and Carolyn Wicks
Today's Key Points:
- The World's Always Been Unstable
- Control the Controllable
- Cultivating Resilience
Seth: It seems like the world is on fire sometimes, doesn't it? Wars raging throughout the world, persistent inflation and economic anxiety, widespread pessimism. The list is almost endless when it comes to what is worrying people. Even on a personal level, things like job security and physical/mental health are top of mind for most people. And the "news"? Mostly designed to divide and provoke rather than inform. Overall, it can feel like everything and everyone is falling apart.
So the question becomes: How do we deal with all of the uncertainty in our lives?
Carolyn: To answer that question I think it is important to remind ourselves that none of this is new. Uncertainty has always been the price of being human. Our ancestors migrated thousands of miles without maps or guarantees, hoping the land ahead could sustain life. Our grandparents endured world wars, rationing food and fuel while wondering if the world they knew would even exist tomorrow. And now, Seth and I face the unknowns of becoming parents for the first time, a path walked by billions before us, each facing fears of their own.
What we call “uncertain times” are simply the times we are alive in. When we remember that humans have always walked forward without guarantees, we stop wasting energy wishing for it and start building the resilience to act despite not having it.
Seth: As Carolyn mentions, everyone who came before us dealt with uncertain times. Marcus Aurelius buried children and fought betrayals. Epictetus was born a slave. Viktor Frankl endured the Holocaust. Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years. They are all proof that hardship is guaranteed, but dignity, fortitude, and character are choices. They chose to focus on what they could control: themselves. Not outside circumstances, not other people.
In an unstable world, you must become stable yourself. You must become the master of your thoughts, words, and actions. Focus on what is yours to control and calmly accept the rest.
Carolyn: And this is where resilience comes in. It’s not about avoiding hardship, it’s about meeting life as it is, uncertain, unpredictable, and often unfair, and refusing to be broken by it. You cannot be broken by the news, by your stress, by your situation. You have to rise above it. As Seth said, you must accept it, and then you must move forward. Resilience is the skill that turns setbacks into training, uncertainty into opportunity, and fear into focus. The world may never be stable, but you can be.
Seth: The whole point of this newsletter is to help you (and us) strengthen our mind, body, and spirit. In order to build physical resilience, you must work your body daily. This means regular exercise, proper sleep, and nutrition to give you a solid foundation. A strong body supports a strong mind, which is cultivated through negative visualization (imaging hardship or loss because it will happen to you), journaling (gratitude lists, daily reflection), and meditation for presence and tranquility. For the soul and spirit, this is your where your values/principles come in on a personal level, and your relationships/community ties for your social level. You must know what you stand for, and be unwavering in it. Your word must be law, both to yourself and others.
At it's core, resilience is self-trust. No matter what comes your way, no matter what life throws at you, your best-self will rise to the challenge. The storm will come, and you must believe that you can navigate it.
Carolyn: The way we deal with uncertainty is not by eliminating it, but by learning to live above it. Life has never offered guarantees, and it never will, but that doesn’t mean we are powerless. When we focus on what we can control, strengthen our bodies, discipline our minds, and anchor ourselves in unshakable values, we become steady in an unsteady world. Uncertainty will always exist, but resilience transforms it from something to fear into something we can face with confidence.
Seth: This week, challenge yourself to reframe uncertainty. You're going to read or hear about all the negatives in the world, and your task is to change the narrative. Remember the good that both you and humanity have to offer and remain optimistic.
Carolyn: Reframing your mind is the first step, but action is what makes it real. Do something today that builds your strength against uncertainty. Do one thing for your body (a workout, a walk, or better sleep), one thing for your mind (journal, meditate, or practice gratitude), and one thing for your spirit (reconnect with your values or someone you love).
Both: The only certainty in life is uncertainty. But with focus on what you can control, you’re no longer at its mercy, you’re prepared to rise above it.
See you next week,
Seth & Carolyn
The StoWicks
Quote of the Week:
"The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown."
H.P. Lovecraft
