How can you be so certain...?
- by Rachel Davidson
- •
- 03 Jan, 2020
- •
Is it really such an uncertain world?
There is so much certainty
in the world. Do you feel
it?
Maybe you had to re-read that line above, because it is more common to hear the phrase “there is so much *un*certainty in the world”.
Our media and our language more often falls back upon hackneyed phrases such as ‘we live in such troubled times’. But I think there has never been an un-troubled time and furthermore I think that the trouble – whatever the latest manifestation of trouble it is - is not because of uncertainty – but rather too much certainty!
Whenever I hear a person discuss something with fervent finality, their assertion expressed of utter totality, demonstrating an obdurate unwillingness to be moved from their perspective, I wonder how they can be so certain. A part of me admires them for it. A part of me is concerned for them.
But I get it – this need for certainty. The whole of humanity is seeking certainty. We love it. It makes us feel safe. It allows us to deny the true fragility of our survival, it allows us to grab at a sense of security. It makes the ground beneath our feet feel solid and stable. It is from where fundamentalism of any creed, race or kind flowers.
Too many people are happy to collect too many facts and not enough truths.
Ever heard that quote by Francis Bacon; “If a man will begin with certainties, he shall end in doubts; but if he will be content to begin with doubts, he shall end in certainties”. I feel this. Do you?
It is a positive call to embrace doubt - that being in doubt is always ‘good’, because it will lead us, in that instinctively deep urge, to arrive at certainty (that place of safety and control).
To my heart, beginning in doubt isn’t just a good thing because of the path to certainty that we feel we need. It is a ‘good thing’ because doubt leads to questions. Questions are curiosity. Curiosity is interesting! Seeking out new truths, new discoveries, new ideas and viewpoints is fun. It makes me feel like that moment when the sun appears from behind a cloud and your shoulders are suddenly warm; bathed in comfort, seen by the vast universal life-giving forces.
Then I ask myself; does it end here?
It cannot end there – listen again to Mr Bacon’s words. The moment one arrives in certainty, one is immediately upon a journey that will end in doubts. It is a never-ending circle. It is Ouroboros; the symbolic snake that is swallowing its own tail. Around and around we must revolve, moving from moments of sunlit certainty to clouded doubt.
Perhaps the secret is to become comfortable with the constant motion, to prize the clarity of certainty when our truths appear to us, feel gratitude for the lesson they provide. Then to get straight back to work- seeking and questioning.
Whenever I hear a teacher proclaim that their ‘way’ is the only true way I get nervous. They have stopped looking, are satisfied to stand still in an ever-changing landscape, they are willing to risk not finding a greater truth in return for a ‘stiller’ life.
To my mind one of the ‘safest’ things you could ever hear from a fellow human being, especially one in a position of teaching, is “I am certain of nothing”. To my ears that is a person I feel safer learning with. These are the true scientists.
One of the phrases that I am always particularly delighted to receive from readers in their reviews of my books is ‘thought-provoking’. Why? Because this is where my stories begin – with thoughts, by my questioning the big and the small elements of life and consciousness. When a reader, by their own admission, has been provoked into thought by a book I have constructed, then I can only think of that as a good thing.
But, in the final analysis, seriously, what the hell do I know?
P.S. The audiobook version of my second book, The Truth of Her, Beyond Veils, Book Two, goes into production this month and I am *certain* that Amy Foley will make another brilliant job of narrating it and bringing all the characters to vibrant life, just as she did with the audiobook of my first book, The Point of Me, Beyond Veils, Book One. Publication date for this second audiobook has yet to be set, but you can be *certain* that I will let you know as soon as I do!
Okay, enough of the *certains*! I'll just leave you with a handy link to the audiobook of The Point of Me: buy it now on Audible.
P.P.S. This month also sees the six-month-versary of the publication of The Truth of Her, Beyond Veils, Book Two. I'm going to celebrate this milestone with a few pixie-dances in the kitchen and copious cups of tea. Perhaps, if you have finished reading the book - or are getting close to - you might consider joining in my celebrations? The best way to do this is to let me, and other potential readers, what you thought of it by writing up a quick Amazon review (this is the third most helpful thing you can do for my writing career, just behind buying the book and reading the book!). Click here to be taken straight to the Amazon page.
If you feel like letting your friends and family know about your enjoyment of The Truth of Her, then I've taken some of the hassle out of it for you by doing a pre-prepared Facebook and Twitter post for you! Just click on those links.
(all book/audiobook links in this post are affiliate links, meaning that if you click on them and then go on to buy, I will get a few more pennies to add to my sales royalties. The price to you remains the same though).
Maybe you had to re-read that line above, because it is more common to hear the phrase “there is so much *un*certainty in the world”.
Our media and our language more often falls back upon hackneyed phrases such as ‘we live in such troubled times’. But I think there has never been an un-troubled time and furthermore I think that the trouble – whatever the latest manifestation of trouble it is - is not because of uncertainty – but rather too much certainty!
Whenever I hear a person discuss something with fervent finality, their assertion expressed of utter totality, demonstrating an obdurate unwillingness to be moved from their perspective, I wonder how they can be so certain. A part of me admires them for it. A part of me is concerned for them.
But I get it – this need for certainty. The whole of humanity is seeking certainty. We love it. It makes us feel safe. It allows us to deny the true fragility of our survival, it allows us to grab at a sense of security. It makes the ground beneath our feet feel solid and stable. It is from where fundamentalism of any creed, race or kind flowers.
Too many people are happy to collect too many facts and not enough truths.
Ever heard that quote by Francis Bacon; “If a man will begin with certainties, he shall end in doubts; but if he will be content to begin with doubts, he shall end in certainties”. I feel this. Do you?
It is a positive call to embrace doubt - that being in doubt is always ‘good’, because it will lead us, in that instinctively deep urge, to arrive at certainty (that place of safety and control).
To my heart, beginning in doubt isn’t just a good thing because of the path to certainty that we feel we need. It is a ‘good thing’ because doubt leads to questions. Questions are curiosity. Curiosity is interesting! Seeking out new truths, new discoveries, new ideas and viewpoints is fun. It makes me feel like that moment when the sun appears from behind a cloud and your shoulders are suddenly warm; bathed in comfort, seen by the vast universal life-giving forces.
Then I ask myself; does it end here?
It cannot end there – listen again to Mr Bacon’s words. The moment one arrives in certainty, one is immediately upon a journey that will end in doubts. It is a never-ending circle. It is Ouroboros; the symbolic snake that is swallowing its own tail. Around and around we must revolve, moving from moments of sunlit certainty to clouded doubt.
Perhaps the secret is to become comfortable with the constant motion, to prize the clarity of certainty when our truths appear to us, feel gratitude for the lesson they provide. Then to get straight back to work- seeking and questioning.
Whenever I hear a teacher proclaim that their ‘way’ is the only true way I get nervous. They have stopped looking, are satisfied to stand still in an ever-changing landscape, they are willing to risk not finding a greater truth in return for a ‘stiller’ life.
To my mind one of the ‘safest’ things you could ever hear from a fellow human being, especially one in a position of teaching, is “I am certain of nothing”. To my ears that is a person I feel safer learning with. These are the true scientists.
One of the phrases that I am always particularly delighted to receive from readers in their reviews of my books is ‘thought-provoking’. Why? Because this is where my stories begin – with thoughts, by my questioning the big and the small elements of life and consciousness. When a reader, by their own admission, has been provoked into thought by a book I have constructed, then I can only think of that as a good thing.
But, in the final analysis, seriously, what the hell do I know?
P.S. The audiobook version of my second book, The Truth of Her, Beyond Veils, Book Two, goes into production this month and I am *certain* that Amy Foley will make another brilliant job of narrating it and bringing all the characters to vibrant life, just as she did with the audiobook of my first book, The Point of Me, Beyond Veils, Book One. Publication date for this second audiobook has yet to be set, but you can be *certain* that I will let you know as soon as I do!
Okay, enough of the *certains*! I'll just leave you with a handy link to the audiobook of The Point of Me: buy it now on Audible.
P.P.S. This month also sees the six-month-versary of the publication of The Truth of Her, Beyond Veils, Book Two. I'm going to celebrate this milestone with a few pixie-dances in the kitchen and copious cups of tea. Perhaps, if you have finished reading the book - or are getting close to - you might consider joining in my celebrations? The best way to do this is to let me, and other potential readers, what you thought of it by writing up a quick Amazon review (this is the third most helpful thing you can do for my writing career, just behind buying the book and reading the book!). Click here to be taken straight to the Amazon page.
If you feel like letting your friends and family know about your enjoyment of The Truth of Her, then I've taken some of the hassle out of it for you by doing a pre-prepared Facebook and Twitter post for you! Just click on those links.
(all book/audiobook links in this post are affiliate links, meaning that if you click on them and then go on to buy, I will get a few more pennies to add to my sales royalties. The price to you remains the same though).
