Uncertainty can be an uncomfortable feeling for many people. Some people thrive upon anticipation of the unknown, but the majority of us are more comfortable when we know where we stand or what is going to happen.

I'm not suggesting that this is the case with everything. People rarely worry about what could be termed as nice surprises. That type of uncertainty is to be welcomed. But most of us do worry about things such as an uncertain employment situation, or whether ones girlfriend will decide to keep the baby or not, or how a dramatic decision will be received.

Essentially, humans are creatures of habit. We feel more comfortable when in a regular and familiar routine. We get up at a similar time each day, eat at regular times and have a set pattern of activities which we attend to during the day. When that routine is threatened by uncertainty most people feel uncomfortable.

And so when faced by the threat of uncertainty what can you do to maintain a feeling of control? Control is the real issue here. We like to feel in control of our life and events. One thing which you can do is to focus upon the elements of things which you are in control of. You cannot control what is happening around you but you can control the way in which you respond to it. You are always able to control your responses and reactions to situations, so long as you think that you can.

I frequently use analogies which are golf related in the things which I say, usually because golf involves many great examples of how ones attitude affects the outcome experienced. For example, if in golf you really want to win a tournament this is clearly a situation which could lead to a feeling of uncertainty. You cannot be certain about how you will play on the day, what the weather will be like or how your competitors will play.

That uncertainty could make you feel anxious if you allowed yourself to dwell upon it. And so it is important to channel your focus and set out with a good attitude. As you focus upon your own game and commit to making good shot choices and committing to that shot, you know that you are doing your very best. You can prepare yourself to deal with every weather condition possible, both in terms of clothing and attitude. And you can acknowledge that each competitor will also be playing their own best game.

By focusing upon the process of each shot, you give yourself the opportunity to play your best golf, and therefore put yourself in a position with the greatest likelihood of winning. You focus upon the aspects of which you are certain; your own knowledge of how far you hit each club, and which shot choices are most appropriate to the situation. If, on the other hand, you were focusing upon what the other golfers are doing or worrying about them being better than you, you would merely be fostering a state of anxiety and distracting yourself from the task in hand.

This principle is true of most aspects of life in general. The best way in which to cope with uncertainty is to break the overall picture down into sections and focus upon the things which you know you are sure of. Yes, you must be aware of possibilities but there is no advantage in allowing yourself to wallow in anxiety or fear. You need to take a step back so that you can assess the situation calmly and choose the most positive way in which to respond.

When your emotions are involved and already engaged in a negative way you can use hypnosis to relax your mind and your emotional reactions. Hypnosis can provide you with an environment which allows you to step back, to relax and think clearly and productively; hypnosis allows you to take control of the situation and see things in a positive light.

Roseanna Leaton, specialist in hypnosis mp3 downloads for relaxation, confidence building and well-being.

P.S. You can learn to relax easily and cope with uncertainty. Grab a free hypnosis mp3 from my website now.