“too often people typically spring into action based on what first comes to mind, and thus too often mind… And thus too often, wind up seeing the world through the lens of what they already know.”

 

- Maggie Jackson, Uncertain: The Wisdom and Wonder of Being Unsure























































In this episode, I interview Maggie Jackson, who is an award-winning author and journalist, known for her writings on social trends, technology's impact on humanity, distraction. She won the 2020 Dorothy Lee Book Award for Outstanding Scholarship in the Ecology of Culture for her book, Distracted. She's also a former contributing columnist for the Boston Globe and has written for the New York Times and Wall Street Journal. My conversation with Maggie offers a lot of us to reflect on the role that uncertainty plays in our life. 

 

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Much of our talk centers on the science and research that reveals why uncertainty can have such positive and profound effects on our perception, learning, and growth.

 

One reason uncertainty can be good for us has to do with predictive processing.

Predictive processing suggests that our brains constantly generate predictions about the world based on our past experiences and knowledge. These predictions shape our perception, filtering out information that doesn't fit with our expectations.  On another level, we are often trying to use the idea of knowing as a form of control. This attempt to control may keep us from opening up to that space of potential.





































When we embrace uncertainty, we challenge our brain's reliance on predictions and open ourselves up to new and diverse perspectives.

This allows us to expand our perception and see the world in a more present and attuned way. By actively seeking out the potential within uncertainty, we tap into the power of curiosity and create opportunities for learning and growth.







Uncertainty as a Zone of Potential: re-framing discomfort

Seeking out the potential that lies within uncertainty also makes it easier to open up to what Maggie calls “ the vitality of a curiosity-driven approach”.  This happens when we reframe what uncertainty means:  that it is in fact a zone of potential.  A space of possibility. Reframing arousal is a key part of harnessing the power of uncertainty and navigating the unfamiliar feelings that come from not knowing the answers.

We can reframe feelings of arousal or stress into an understanding that our body is actually becoming primed to learn, and to engage in "Wakeful Learning". (Stanislas Dehaene*) 

 

*Stanislas Dehaene is one of my favorite researchers,