Embracing Uncertainty (My Word for 2025)
Cheers to the New Year
As we step into a new year, I’ve chosen a guiding word that resonates deeply with where I am in life: uncertainty. At first glance, uncertainty might seem unsettling, even uncomfortable. After all, we tend to gravitate toward stability, clarity, and control. But I’ve come to realize that uncertainty is not something to fear—it’s a breeding ground for growth.
Uncertainty challenges us to let go of rigid plans and embrace the fluidity of life. It invites us to lean into the unknown with curiosity rather than hesitation. In those moments where nothing is certain, everything becomes possible. Growth happens when we’re pushed outside of our comfort zones, where the familiar gives way to the extraordinary.
In fact, certainty can be the enemy of growth and unity. When we cling too tightly to what we think we know, we close ourselves off to new ideas, new perspectives, and new possibilities. Certainty creates barriers—it convinces us that our way is the only way, that we must have all the answers, or that life must unfold in a predictable, linear fashion. But life isn’t linear. It’s a winding, unpredictable path that requires us to embrace the unknown if we truly want to evolve.
Deconstruction and uncertainty go hand-in-hand. To truly grow, we often need to take apart the beliefs, assumptions, and systems we once held as unshakable truths. Deconstruction is not about destruction—it’s about questioning, reflecting, and rebuilding. It’s about peeling back the layers of certainty to uncover what truly matters, what aligns with our values, and what helps us move forward authentically.
Deconstruction is uncomfortable, but it’s also transformative. And in that discomfort lies the power of uncertainty—it creates the space we need to rebuild something stronger, wiser, and more compassionate.
This year, I want to welcome uncertainty with open arms. I want to embrace the questions I don’t yet have answers to, the paths I haven’t yet walked, and the opportunities I can’t yet see. Instead of resisting the unknown, I choose to trust it. I trust that in the space of not knowing, I will discover new strengths, forge deeper connections, and uncover the next chapters of my journey.
I’ve learned that the beauty of uncertainty lies in its ability to teach us resilience. It teaches us how to adapt, how to grow through discomfort, and how to hold onto hope even when the path ahead is unclear. When we stop demanding certainty, we create room for surprises, for creativity, and for opportunities that we might never have imagined.
But perhaps most importantly, uncertainty fosters unity. It reminds us that none of us have all the answers and that we’re in this unpredictable journey of life together. Certainty can divide us, making us dig into our positions and close ourselves off from connection. Uncertainty, on the other hand, humbles us. It invites us to listen, to learn from one another, and to find strength in our shared humanity.
This year, I am stepping forward not with all the answers, but with faith. Faith that the unknown holds lessons I’m ready to learn. Faith that even when things feel messy, I am exactly where I’m supposed to be. And faith that each step I take—no matter how small—will lead me toward the life I am meant to live.
To anyone else wrestling with the weight of uncertainty, know this: You are not alone. It’s okay to not have it all figured out. In fact, that’s where the magic happens. Uncertainty is the space where dreams begin to form, where transformation takes root, and where we realize how connected we truly are.
So here’s to 2025—the year I choose to embrace uncertainty, deconstruction, and all the possibilities they bring. I’m ready to grow, to trust, and to discover what’s waiting on the other side of the unknown. If you’re ready to join me, let’s take that first step together.
Cherese Jackson