On the Edge of the Unknown

“Live the questions now. Perhaps then, someday far in the future, you will gradually, without even noticing it, live your way into the answer.”— Rainer Maria Rilke, Austrian poet and writer

One of the unexpected gifts of living long enough is recognizing that some of the answers we once searched for have become part of who we are. We didn't necessarily arrive at them through reasoning or searching. We lived our way into them. And now, speaking for myself, rather than looking toward the future for reassurance of my worth or my place in the world, I find myself simply interested in what life might bring next.

There is something rather intriguing about standing on the edge of the unknown. Not knowing what comes next, not having a carefully constructed plan, and yet finding myself more curious than concerned about what might unfold.

Having made a significant decision about the direction my life is taking, I've begun to notice possibilities appearing from several different directions. Some are entirely unexpected. Others seem to be variations of things I've considered before. I don't know which, if any, will develop into something meaningful. And surprisingly, I'm quite comfortable with that.

I don't think I would have approached the unknown quite this way earlier in my life. There was a time when questions about what determined my future, my purpose, and whether I could truly trust life occupied a great deal of my attention. Looking back, I realize that many of those questions have quietly lost their hold on me. Not because I've managed to arrange my life into some ideal picture of success or security, but because something in my relationship with life has changed. I am genuinely happy. I am at peace with who I am and where I find myself, and, I remain open to so much more.

I find there is a big difference between tolerating uncertainty and actually welcoming it. We often speak about learning to trust life, but how often do we allow ourselves to be genuinely curious about what it might reveal without immediately trying to determine where it's leading?

Of course, curiosity comes more easily when we feel secure. And in a world where so much seems uncertain, fear about the future is understandable. When circumstances become difficult, uncertainty can quickly give way to anxiety. That's why it's so valuable to develop a familiarity with our own inner guidance before we find ourselves in the midst of life's more challenging moments.

We don't have to wait for a crisis or a major decision to begin. We can start with the ordinary choices of everyday life. Before automatically responding to a request, making a commitment, or following a familiar habit, we might pause long enough to notice what is happening within us. Is this choice arising from fear, obligation, or the need to control an outcome? Or is there a quieter sense of clarity beneath the thinking? The more familiar we become with recognizing that distinction, the more readily we may recognize our own guidance when circumstances become challenging.

At this stage of my life, my deepest intention is to follow my heart's guidance. Not simply to make decisions based on what seems practical, reasonable, or predictable, although those considerations certainly have their place. Rather, I want to remain attentive to that quieter knowing that doesn't always arrive with an explanation or a guarantee.

I've come to recognize that following the heart isn't necessarily about knowing where we're going. Sometimes it's about recognizing what feels aligned with who we are, taking the next step, and allowing the rest to unfold. In my experience, when I’ve done that, it unfolds in a far greater way than I could’ve planned or even foreseen.

Perhaps that's where trust becomes a living experience rather than simply an idea we hold about life. We discover that we can move forward without needing certainty, and that not knowing doesn't have to mean being lost. In fact, it might just be the beginning of the ride of our lives! I'm finding myself less interested in figuring out what comes next and more interested in recognizing what calls me forward. There's a wonderful freedom in that, a sense of coherence that comes when the heart and mind are no longer at odds, and we can simply enjoy discovering what life has in store.

For now, I am standing on the edge of the unknown, occasionally wishing I could see around the corner, but remembering that some of life's most meaningful answers, and adventures are revealed along the way.

And I find that rather exciting.

Remember, I'm always happy to continue the conversation. I'd love to hear your thoughts, reflections, or your own experiences.

With loving intention,

Lewanna