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Embracing Uncertainty: Breakthrough Methods for Achieving Peace of Mind When Facing the Unknown
From the multimillion bestselling author of Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway comes a powerful and healing book designed to offer a safety net in a world of never-ending change. It may be one of the most comforting and life-affirming books you will ever read.
With her invaluable insights and exercises, Susan Jeffers gives you the tools you need to deal with all the uncertainty in your life with a sense of peace and possibility. You will learn:
- Forty-two exercises to help make your life an exciting adventure instead of a continuous worry
- How to lighten up and put problems into a life-affirming perspective
- The amazing power of the word "maybe"
- And much more
You will discover that there is a wondrous, joyous, and abundant life that can exist in the presence of uncertainty. The question is: "What do you need to do to reach this wonderful state?" And the answers abound in Embracing Uncertainty .
With her invaluable insights and exercises, Susan Jeffers gives you the tools you need to deal with all the uncertainty in your life with a sense of peace and possibility. You will learn:
- Forty-two exercises to help make your life an exciting adventure instead of a continuous worry
- How to lighten up and put problems into a life-affirming perspective
- The amazing power of the word "maybe"
- And much more
You will discover that there is a wondrous, joyous, and abundant life that can exist in the presence of uncertainty. The question is: "What do you need to do to reach this wonderful state?" And the answers abound in Embracing Uncertainty .
304 pages, Paperback
First published May 2, 2002
190 people are currently reading
1483 people want to read
About the author
Susan Jeffers
29 books375 followersSusan Jeffers, Ph.D. has helped millions of people throughout the world overcome their fears, heal their relationships, and move forward in life with confidence and love.
She is the author of many internationally renowned books including Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway, Feel the Fear. . .and Beyond, Feel the Fear Power Planner, End the Struggle and Dance With Life, Dare to Connect, Opening Our Hearts to Men, Losing a Love...Finding a Life, Thoughts Of Power and Love, The Little Book of Confidence, Embracing Uncertainty, Life is Huge! plus her "Fear-less Series" of affirmation books and tapes (Inner Talk for Peace of Mind, Inner Talk for a Confident Day, and Inner Talk For a Love That Works). Her latest book is The Feel the Fear Guide to Lasting Love, which was published in the UK in May 2005 and in the US and Canada by her own publishing company, Jeffers Press, in October 2005.
As well as being a best-selling author, Susan is a sought-after public speaker and has been a guest on many radio and television shows internationally. She lives with her husband, Mark Shelmerdine, in Los Angeles.
She is the author of many internationally renowned books including Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway, Feel the Fear. . .and Beyond, Feel the Fear Power Planner, End the Struggle and Dance With Life, Dare to Connect, Opening Our Hearts to Men, Losing a Love...Finding a Life, Thoughts Of Power and Love, The Little Book of Confidence, Embracing Uncertainty, Life is Huge! plus her "Fear-less Series" of affirmation books and tapes (Inner Talk for Peace of Mind, Inner Talk for a Confident Day, and Inner Talk For a Love That Works). Her latest book is The Feel the Fear Guide to Lasting Love, which was published in the UK in May 2005 and in the US and Canada by her own publishing company, Jeffers Press, in October 2005.
As well as being a best-selling author, Susan is a sought-after public speaker and has been a guest on many radio and television shows internationally. She lives with her husband, Mark Shelmerdine, in Los Angeles.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
July 5, 2012
كتاب فوق الرائع بعد انتهائك منه تشعر أن روحك خفيفة تستطيع أن تقفز فوق أعتى الهموم بإبتسامة رضا , من نوعية الكتب التي تغير من نفوس قارئيها .. أنصح بقرائته بشدة
October 13, 2010
I read this because I have to do a talk on coping with uncertainty. It contains a mixture of cognitive strategies (such as focusing on all of the rough things one has coped with successfully in the past) and existential (such as coming to terms with the fact that we really can't control the future). The material covered is basically sound, and includes a number of exercises to work on. I just wish it wasn't quite so pop-psychology esque...just a little too rah rah you can do it for my taste, and probably a bit too shallow to be a life-changing read. Would probably have given it 3 1/2 stars if that was an option.
May 4, 2013
Too simplistic and almost depressing for my tastes. "give up hoping and dreaming and you won't be disapointed,instead be in a state of wonder " As- I wonder what will happen ? .... what great achievements have we all experienced because we hope, dream and envision ? Yes, there is something wonderfulful about wonder (pun intended ) and I undertand taking action and letting go of the outcome.What other choice do we really have ?, as challenging as that can be.
November 22, 2014
كتاب ماهر في التشعب الى اقصى اعماق مخاوفك ! يحتضنك فعلا قبل ان تسقط في اصعب اوقاتك او اكثرها توترا وحيرة
يقفز بك لتحدي الصعاب وتحويل كل الامور الى نزهة تاخذك في رحلة حكيمة ..
قالب جميل مباشر .. وتغطية شمولية لجوانب الحياة بشكل يجعلك تدرك ان الحياة مغامرة جريئة لايمكنك تفويتها !!
مثال لكتاب رائع .. يمكنك حقا ان تصادقه !
يقفز بك لتحدي الصعاب وتحويل كل الامور الى نزهة تاخذك في رحلة حكيمة ..
قالب جميل مباشر .. وتغطية شمولية لجوانب الحياة بشكل يجعلك تدرك ان الحياة مغامرة جريئة لايمكنك تفويتها !!
مثال لكتاب رائع .. يمكنك حقا ان تصادقه !
July 26, 2023
این کتاب برای من کاملا ۵۰-۵۰ بود! بعضی قسمتهای آن بسیار کاربردی و برخی قسمتهای دیگر آن واقعا بیربط بود. بهطور کلی این اثر ارزش یکبار خواندن را دارد و حتی شاید به لطف عدم انسجام مطالب آن و عدم ارتباط فصول با یکدیگر، بتوانید بهصورت گزینشی آن را خوانده یا مانند من کتاب صوتیاش را گوش دهید.
April 24, 2010
*كيف تحافظ على صفاء ذهنك وأنت تواجه المجهول.
"أنا أرخي وعيي، وأحرر فؤادي، وارتدي العالم كثوب فضفاض، واتعلم الرقص برشاقة على سجادة دائمة الحركة"
"أنا أرخي وعيي، وأحرر فؤادي، وارتدي العالم كثوب فضفاض، واتعلم الرقص برشاقة على سجادة دائمة الحركة"
October 2, 2017
كتاب جميل جداً يأخذك بعيد عن صخب الدنيا الممل.
July 16, 2020
She starts with three realities: First, the only certainty is that life is uncertain. Second, you are unable to control the uncertainty. Third, by accepting that life is uncertain you open the door to a powerful way of living which I agree there is great adventure in the unknown to discover powerful parts of ourselves that we didn’t know were there. Then she recommended forty two exercises to help change your mindset which some of them are probably a bit shallow to be a life changing read. I like the idea of keeping or using reminders for various exercises like a tea cup, snow globe, and laughing Buddha. There is something wonderful about embracing uncertainty in a positive attitude, letting go of the expectation and attachments of possible outcomes and handling whatever comes your way. Reading this book and doing the exercise with some friends would be more effective and fun which I did.
August 30, 2015
This is the third of Susan Jeffers' books I have read, and they are all written in her warm and engaging voice, the concepts are clearly explained and accompanied by very easy and practical exercises to help change your mindset.
Embracing Uncertainty is particularly important in view of our modern lifestyles where rapid change is a fact of life, often creating anxiety and insecurity, both on an individual and collective level.
The author acknowledges that some of the concepts in the book, such as letting go of expectations and the outcomes of our actions, while easy to accept in theory, are difficult to carry out in practice. After all, it's one thing to accept uncertainty but another altogether to welcome and embrace it. This is where the exercises come in handy. Some of them are deceptively simple - eg she is a passionate advocate of affirmations - but are effective when done wholeheartedly.
While her tone veers into cheesy/New Agey territory on many occasions, I can easily forgive this as her motivation to help others in writing this book is genuine and she is not afraid to expose her own failings as well.
Overall, a really useful book to help you achieve peace of mind, especially recommended if you are going through a crisis or difficult time in your life.
Embracing Uncertainty is particularly important in view of our modern lifestyles where rapid change is a fact of life, often creating anxiety and insecurity, both on an individual and collective level.
The author acknowledges that some of the concepts in the book, such as letting go of expectations and the outcomes of our actions, while easy to accept in theory, are difficult to carry out in practice. After all, it's one thing to accept uncertainty but another altogether to welcome and embrace it. This is where the exercises come in handy. Some of them are deceptively simple - eg she is a passionate advocate of affirmations - but are effective when done wholeheartedly.
While her tone veers into cheesy/New Agey territory on many occasions, I can easily forgive this as her motivation to help others in writing this book is genuine and she is not afraid to expose her own failings as well.
Overall, a really useful book to help you achieve peace of mind, especially recommended if you are going through a crisis or difficult time in your life.
October 28, 2019
Susan Jeffers brings positive thinking into the our negative mindsets by asking us first to realize that everything that happens to us can be either good or bad. Rather than allowing ourselves to get trapped in the victim mode she tells us that we can overcome bad can be good if we look for the life lessons that we can learn from it. All life is a blessing that we need to embrace so the future is not something to fear but opportunity to unwrap.
December 15, 2017
Great book by Storm Jeffers! It provides practical exercises for dealing with any situation. Some of the exercises seem a bit out there but definitely worth a try. This is a book to revisit over and over again for the exercises. I also liked the idea of keeping/using reminders for various exercises like a pair of scissors or a tea cup or snow globe thingy. That's different.
March 9, 2018
Ready to embrace it all. Susan Jeffers provides a bucket load of tools and references to create a wonder-full life and embrace any uncertainty in a positive attitude, letting go of the expectations and attachments of possible outcomes and handling whatever comes your way. Great read and develops well on her other books. Love and light Susan.
September 19, 2021
🌟🌟 - I liked a few parts of the book.
I’m not sure why I keep reading self-help books. They really just need to be pamphlets because they go on much longer than need be just to make them into a book and are very simple concepts. And overall, they’re just boring. This one didn’t have anything awe-inspiring or anything that would make me recommend this for someone to read.
I’m not sure why I keep reading self-help books. They really just need to be pamphlets because they go on much longer than need be just to make them into a book and are very simple concepts. And overall, they’re just boring. This one didn’t have anything awe-inspiring or anything that would make me recommend this for someone to read.
June 4, 2021
الآن أكثر من أي وقت مضى نحتاج إلى شيء ثابت نتمسك به شيء لا ينجرف بعيدا مع أمواج التغيير العاتية.
أننا نقضي جزءا كبيرا من حياتنا في قلق محاولين منع الأشياء السيئة من الوقوع لنا لدرجة أننا ننسى الاستمتاع بالأشياء الجيدة.
الشيء الوحيد الأكيد هو أن الحياة غير أكيدة.
أن القدر له تصاريف عجيبة ففي بعض الأحيان تتكشف المعجزة من قلب كارثة مستطيره.
استمتع.
المشكلة في هذا العالم هي أن الجاهل واثق أكثر مما ينبغي والذكي يملأه الشك.
سنرى أننا سوف نكون أكثر سعادة عندما نتخلى عن حاجتنا لأن نكون على صواب.
كل ما يحدث يتبع خطة شديدة الإتقان.
التوقعات تؤدي إلى إنشاء ارتباط وتشوق ورغبة وأمل في أن يسير أمر ما في المستقبل بشكل معين.
عدم المعرفة هو مسار الحكمة.
السبب الرئيسي لمعاناتنا هو رغبتنا في أن تكون الأمور على خلاف ما هي عليه.
في كل أمور حياتك أقترح عليك أن تحدد أهدافك وأن تفعل ما في وسعك وأن تستمتع بما تقوم به ثم لا تشغل بالك بالنتيجة.
عندما تتمكن أخيرا من التخلي عن حاجتك لأن تكون في وضع السيطرة فلأول مرة ستكون في وضع السيطرة بالفعل.
المنطق يعني الموت لذلك الجزء منك الذي يستطيع أن يصنع المعجزات.
إذا كان فيه خيري فسأحصل عليه وإذا لم يكن فيه خيري فلن أحصل عليه.
لا تبذل مجهودا كبيرا أكثر مما ينبغي في أن تحصل على إجابة بديهية.
أن التخلص من صرامتك يساعدك على أن ترى مجالا أوسع وأسمي.
إذا تمكنا من إدراك الخير الذي يأتي في كل شيء تلقيه الحياة أمامنا فإننا سنكون قد قطعنا شوطا كبيرا في طريق احتضان المجهول.
عندما نركز على التعلم من كل الأشياء الرائعة في حياتنا فإننا نزيد من عظم النعم ونستطيع أن نوجد إحساسا أرقى بالفرح والمتعة.
الحب يمتد لما هو أبعد بكثير من شخص المحبوب.
عندما تصبح بطلا لن يجعل هذا الآخرين أقوى فقط وإنما سيجعلك أنت أيضا أقوى.
من له هدف يعيش من أجله يمكن أن يتحمل أي ظرف يمر به.
ليس المهم ما أريده أنا من الحياة، بل المهم ما أستطيع أن أعطيه.
إن خبرتك في الحياة تعكس ما تلفت انتباهك إليه.
إن الشيء الذي يقربنا أكثر وأكثر من هدفنا هو التكرار.
كن صبورا فنفاذ الصبر يحرمنا من المتعة.
كن واثقا بأنك ستجد كل ما تحتاجه. وإن لم تجده فاعتمد على ذاتك في إيجاده.
أننا نقضي جزءا كبيرا من حياتنا في قلق محاولين منع الأشياء السيئة من الوقوع لنا لدرجة أننا ننسى الاستمتاع بالأشياء الجيدة.
الشيء الوحيد الأكيد هو أن الحياة غير أكيدة.
أن القدر له تصاريف عجيبة ففي بعض الأحيان تتكشف المعجزة من قلب كارثة مستطيره.
استمتع.
المشكلة في هذا العالم هي أن الجاهل واثق أكثر مما ينبغي والذكي يملأه الشك.
سنرى أننا سوف نكون أكثر سعادة عندما نتخلى عن حاجتنا لأن نكون على صواب.
كل ما يحدث يتبع خطة شديدة الإتقان.
التوقعات تؤدي إلى إنشاء ارتباط وتشوق ورغبة وأمل في أن يسير أمر ما في المستقبل بشكل معين.
عدم المعرفة هو مسار الحكمة.
السبب الرئيسي لمعاناتنا هو رغبتنا في أن تكون الأمور على خلاف ما هي عليه.
في كل أمور حياتك أقترح عليك أن تحدد أهدافك وأن تفعل ما في وسعك وأن تستمتع بما تقوم به ثم لا تشغل بالك بالنتيجة.
عندما تتمكن أخيرا من التخلي عن حاجتك لأن تكون في وضع السيطرة فلأول مرة ستكون في وضع السيطرة بالفعل.
المنطق يعني الموت لذلك الجزء منك الذي يستطيع أن يصنع المعجزات.
إذا كان فيه خيري فسأحصل عليه وإذا لم يكن فيه خيري فلن أحصل عليه.
لا تبذل مجهودا كبيرا أكثر مما ينبغي في أن تحصل على إجابة بديهية.
أن التخلص من صرامتك يساعدك على أن ترى مجالا أوسع وأسمي.
إذا تمكنا من إدراك الخير الذي يأتي في كل شيء تلقيه الحياة أمامنا فإننا سنكون قد قطعنا شوطا كبيرا في طريق احتضان المجهول.
عندما نركز على التعلم من كل الأشياء الرائعة في حياتنا فإننا نزيد من عظم النعم ونستطيع أن نوجد إحساسا أرقى بالفرح والمتعة.
الحب يمتد لما هو أبعد بكثير من شخص المحبوب.
عندما تصبح بطلا لن يجعل هذا الآخرين أقوى فقط وإنما سيجعلك أنت أيضا أقوى.
من له هدف يعيش من أجله يمكن أن يتحمل أي ظرف يمر به.
ليس المهم ما أريده أنا من الحياة، بل المهم ما أستطيع أن أعطيه.
إن خبرتك في الحياة تعكس ما تلفت انتباهك إليه.
إن الشيء الذي يقربنا أكثر وأكثر من هدفنا هو التكرار.
كن صبورا فنفاذ الصبر يحرمنا من المتعة.
كن واثقا بأنك ستجد كل ما تحتاجه. وإن لم تجده فاعتمد على ذاتك في إيجاده.
June 9, 2025
In this book, Jeffers presents a lifestyle where you learn how to reject worrying over uncertainty while learning to embrace the adventure on not knowing what is to come while importantly realizing that so many of life's circumstances are beyond our control, no matter how much worry we invest in them. There are forces far greater than us in life, she calls it the Grand Design, others of us simply call it God. Whatever semantics you use, it is all the same. We believe we are in control of every aspect of our life. We do control much, but also not so much. This is where the book delves into, learning to control what we can control and focusing on that while giving up the reins and becoming a neutral observer to those circumstances we cannot control.
We cannot control other people, the economy, the prospect of death, politicians, the weather, but these are all examples of things people stress and worry about. If it starts to rain, let it.
Do not attach to predetermined expectations. So much of regret comes from that. The expectations were formed before knowing all the various circumstances that you had to deal with.
The trick is, control what you can. Go about your day with your best effort. Work hard, do good by others. Those things are generally in your control. The rest, you should care about however recognize you do not control them so stop the worrying. Let life in that respect come to you. With that, there will be more peace.
We cannot control other people, the economy, the prospect of death, politicians, the weather, but these are all examples of things people stress and worry about. If it starts to rain, let it.
Do not attach to predetermined expectations. So much of regret comes from that. The expectations were formed before knowing all the various circumstances that you had to deal with.
The trick is, control what you can. Go about your day with your best effort. Work hard, do good by others. Those things are generally in your control. The rest, you should care about however recognize you do not control them so stop the worrying. Let life in that respect come to you. With that, there will be more peace.
April 6, 2023
The book explores the idea that uncertainty is a natural part of life, and that learning to embrace it can lead to a more fulfilling and happy existence. Jeffers argues that many of us are held back in life by our fear of the unknown, and that this fear can prevent us from taking risks and pursuing our dreams. She offers practical advice on how to overcome this fear, such as learning to focus on the present moment, cultivating a sense of gratitude, and developing a positive mindset. One of the strengths of "Embracing Uncertainty" is Jeffers' ability to explain complex psychological concepts by using anecdotes and examples from her own life, making the book relatable and engaging. However, some readers may find the book overly simplistic, and Jeffers' advice may not resonate with everyone. Overall, "Embracing Uncertainty" is a helpful and engaging book that offers practical advice on how to overcome fear and uncertainty.
March 19, 2023
This might be a 3.5 star book. I gave it four because there were some exercises at the beginning that were really useful and do completely change your thinking on what’s happening. I will wonder, and I will worry about things tomorrow amongst other ideas.
I’d not read any Jeffers before and thought it would be a good way to dip my toes into Uncertainty before following with Radical Uncertainty by King and Kay, which looks a lot more complex. She’s what you would expect, relentlessly optimistic, quite spiritual, and quite self promoting. But it does leave you with a good feeling so I can understand why she sold so many books.
The best part for me was the beginning and then the rest of the book was more about optimism and positivity. I suppose it’s hard to write a whole book in uncertainty!
I’d not read any Jeffers before and thought it would be a good way to dip my toes into Uncertainty before following with Radical Uncertainty by King and Kay, which looks a lot more complex. She’s what you would expect, relentlessly optimistic, quite spiritual, and quite self promoting. But it does leave you with a good feeling so I can understand why she sold so many books.
The best part for me was the beginning and then the rest of the book was more about optimism and positivity. I suppose it’s hard to write a whole book in uncertainty!
August 17, 2024
I had high hopes for this book as the first chapter made a lot of sense to me - the author explains we don't know what's around the corner so we should let the beauty of life unfold and embrace the power of 'maybe.' I could get on board with all of that. However, the rest of it was just a long and patronising waffle. She explains if we're going through something bad to just "get up and get on with it." And how we need to stop being victims and be positive about everything. I'm not sure telling someone who's been or going through something awful and traumatic to just smile and get over it is the best approach! I'm not even going to delve into the sections where she preaches about how believing in God will save us...
December 3, 2024
My friend lent this book to me because of the uncertainty I'm facing due to health challenges, and I am so glad I read it now! Susan Jeffers's writing is a bit unconventional, with lots of exclamation marks and enthusiasm, but the message is still good. As paradoxical as it may seem, this is a guide for taking control of your life but letting go of control. The control you think you have is only an illusion; once you can see past the illusion, there is freedom. It's also about not being a victim, which is probably more relevant today than when Jeffers wrote the book in 2001. Probably anyone could benefit from reading this book and shifting their mindset, and it's especially relevant for anyone going through a difficult time.
August 3, 2020
DNF I just didn't feel or agree with what she was saying, it's opposite to my beliefs,so I saw no point in finishing as I wasn't gaining anything. I believe in Law of Attraction and that I create my life,Jeffers here is basically telling you you have no control and might as well get on with suffering and disappointment. 🙄 Strange as she's a student of Jack Canfield and he teaches LOA too.
I think her basic premise is to release resistance and impatience,which is essential for manifesting but this book just was too depressing and disempowering,I kept rolling my eyes at each chapter.
I think her basic premise is to release resistance and impatience,which is essential for manifesting but this book just was too depressing and disempowering,I kept rolling my eyes at each chapter.
April 19, 2025
I LOVED Susan's book Feel The Fear And Do It Anyway, so I was excited to pick this up. Unfortunately, I was disappointed. It started off strong but ended up meandering away from the theme. I didn't care for the weird metaphysical and spiritual content. I'm sorry, but it feels like a big leap from intuition to ESP.
Also not a fan of the long inspiration porn section, where Susan lists her "heroes" — mostly disabled people. Just a weird vibe. Some of the affirmations and exercises were good, but this was a miss overall.
Also not a fan of the long inspiration porn section, where Susan lists her "heroes" — mostly disabled people. Just a weird vibe. Some of the affirmations and exercises were good, but this was a miss overall.
September 5, 2020
Initial chapter was great and some very important principles on developing a tolerance to uncertainty. However, as I began to read further, Susan Jeffers seemed to more and more include supernatural concepts of 'energy' and some other rather hokey nonsense, so I had to put the book down after the 5th chapter. This might do well for religious or 'spiritual' people, but not for those with a desire for empirical, concrete evidence or examples.
October 24, 2016
This is an amazing book. It really spoke to me as I read it, and it had a lot of very easy to use exercises to enable my handling of hard to handle situations, like dealing with death and how to remain productive in stressful and emotionally crippling situations. This is one of the few books I intend to buy instead of just borrowing from the library
September 23, 2019
I found this easy to read. The ideas are good and some of the "exercises" are helpful. Oddly, it just feels dated, like it was written in the 80s. I'm not sure why I get that feeling, but I was surprised when I read the publication date of 2003. I don't have anything particularly bad to say about it, but I'm not feeling inspired to pick up the author's other works.
December 30, 2018
كتاب جيد، يحمل بعض الأفكار الجديدة التي تفتح لك أبواب جديدة لملاحظة سلوكك، و اخرة غير جديدة لكن تحتاج من يذكرك بها. قد اختلف في بعض الافكار المذكورة لكن بالتأكيد سوف احتاج لقراة الكتاب أكثر من مرة لتطبيق ما فيه من محتوى.
March 13, 2024
DNF. Did not find this one helpful so decided to stop reading about 60 pages in. I could understand some of the author's reasoning, but her suggestions to not hope and to tell yourself you will worry about it tomorrow just don't resonate with me.
December 28, 2024
This score is not reflective of the quality of the book
but of its usefulness to us.
Although there were many points on which I agreed with the author, the book went in several directions that stopped me from recommending it.
but of its usefulness to us.
Although there were many points on which I agreed with the author, the book went in several directions that stopped me from recommending it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Want to read
November 16, 2025As seen in Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals.
July 2, 2019
Handbook of happiness
I love all of her books. She changed the way I think about life and how to live and love. Can’t thank her enough.
I love all of her books. She changed the way I think about life and how to live and love. Can’t thank her enough.
September 9, 2020
A really good book for restructuring your thinking. I knocked a star off for how she handled the religious part of the book, but overall a great book I am happy I read!
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