Waiting, especially during moments which can potentially have a significant impact on the course of life, is generally torturous. However, folks who are not optimistic or mostly think in worst case scenarios, the effect of uncertainty on them is even worse. They tend to find themselves catastrophizing about almost everything.
As mindfulness is all about witnessing and experiencing the reality of the moment with a non-judgmental stance, it seems that mindfulness training could benefit those who are going through uncertain times. One recent study published in the journal of Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin indicated that mindfulness training helped the law school graduates (students) cope with uncertainty related to their bar exam results. The study further states that, “… participants who were low in dispositional optimism and high in intolerance of uncertainty benefited most from mindfulness (relative to control) meditation. These findings point to a simple and effective way to wait better, particularly for those most vulnerable to distress”.
Experience of uncertainty and waiting is severe among students population when they are waiting for the outcome of their examinations and professional applications.
Even though this study was limited to law students, yet it could be argued that benefits of mindfulness training can extend the coping skills to high-uncertainty experiences related to other students, personal health, entrepreneurship, medical testing/diagnosis, legal issues, unemployment, law enforcement, conflicts (military and non-military), etc.
Please share this info with someone who is going through uncertain times. It may just give them a hope to hold on for a little bit longer. Students and patients would likely benefit such hope.
