The Wisdom of Doubt and Uncertainty

I am excited to join Woodsong as a new team member, supporting Dr. Fred Chu with website management and content updates. My role will focus on assisting with uploading articles and ensuring that resources remain accessible. Recently, Dr. Chu shared his reflections in "The Wisdom of Doubt and Uncertainty." I look forward to contributing behind the scenes to help bring forward more of these meaningful insights.

— Zelda

The Wisdom of Doubt and Uncertainty

Last week, after discussions among the therapists helping our patients cope with their fear and anger due to the current political climate, we discovered some important elements. The escalation of rhetoric and accusations from both sides has heightened fear and uncertainty. Our sense of helplessness drives us to seek understanding in order to regain a sense of control. We also desperately seek validation from people we believe to be wise, intelligent, and knowledgeable. However, we are largely unaware of powerful hidden forces that can exponentially reinforce the echo chamber feedback loop between audiences/readers and media/experts.

One such force is the hidden algorithm used by media outlets to attract more readers and keep them engaged for longer periods. Unfortunately, our brains are wired to respond strongly when we feel threatened. This algorithm follows a two-step formula: first, it escalates and validates our fear and uncertainty; second, it restores our sense of certainty by providing us with 'information' and 'knowledge' that instills confidence in our understanding of events. A strong sense of CERTAINTY reduces our feelings of helplessness, allowing us to feel protected.

The media and the "talking heads" might not even be aware of this process themselves. I’ve noticed that many social media and media experts begin by neutrally reporting news, only to eventually become more radicalized to one side. They, too, are influenced by the hidden forces I mentioned earlier. If they fail to adhere to this algorithm, they risk losing their audience and readership. Even politicians are affected, as their objectives often depend on gaining more supporters. People often use the term "echo chamber" to describe the other side, without realizing that they themselves are caught in it.

As I mentioned earlier, I believe our brains are hardwired to follow this algorithm. Awareness of this is the first step. From there, we must find ways to change how we consume news and current events. For example, I tried using Ground News to stay mindful of my blind spots, but I couldn’t maintain the habit because it was too stressful and time consuming. Validation, it seems, is a double-edge sword.

Coming back to thinking like a therapist: most dysfunctional coping strategies involve avoiding emotional pain by engaging in activities that provide immediate relief from discomfort but ultimately create a self-conditioning feedback loop, leading to destructive habits. Therapy aims to help individuals tolerate that pain and adopt more constructive methods for dealing with their suffering. As one therapist in our group said about “being there,” "I am willing to stay here with you while you struggle through those feelings of uncertainty and helplessness." This approach demonstrates that you will not abandon them.

Helping people, especially children, involves teaching them that life is not about fixing the world to make them feel safe. Parents often make the mistake of neglecting to teach their children how to develop skills for coping with uncertainty. While we cannot stop the electronic algorithm, we can begin to change our internal algorithm by strengthening our connections with one another, building communities, and spending time engaging in activities free from electronic influence.