The first time I was introduced to astrology was as a child, when my aunt bought me a Gemini chain necklace. It wasn’t until years later that I learned what it actually meant. But once I learned about my zodiac sign, I was hooked. I started wondering what everyone’s birthday was just so I could know their sign. Then, I learned about birth charts, and that made it even more interesting. As time went on, the curiosity deepened, but so did my dependence on astrology to navigate life, which started to make my anxiety worse. At the time, I thought astrology gave me the certainty I was looking for, but in hindsight, it was really just giving me relief from uncertainty. Predictions aren’t guaranteed or even 100% accurate. The real challenge for me wasn’t knowing what would happen; it was learning how to be okay with not knowing.
There’s Freedom in Not Knowing
The freedom that comes with not knowing is being more present in the moment. Anxiety often stems from fear about the future, but if we focus on what is in front of us rather than what lies ahead, we can experience a greater sense of liberation. It might be easier to focus on what we can do next than what we could do next year. That’s 365 days that we just don’t know, but we know this day. As much as we think we know what’s coming, life constantly reminds us how unpredictable it can be. We see this even in weather forecasts. How many times have they predicted a sunny day, only for it to turn into thunderstorms? It might not happen often, but it does happen. Sometimes, being okay with what is, without constantly thinking about what will be, allows us to stay right here, in the present moment.
The Root of Anxiety
What if anxiety is stemming from our dissatisfaction with what’s currently going on in our lives? If we’re enjoying the way life is, would we be less worried about the future? I don’t suggest that we don’t think about the future, but I do suggest that we’re less focused on what we can’t control. The times that I checked my horoscope were mostly when I felt sad or anxious. When I was happy, I was less concerned about the future. When I was unhappy, I worried more about the future. I predicted that my current feelings indicated how things would always be. I thought anxiety was the challenge, but it was really my unhappiness. I was afraid I’d never be happy.
The Power of Choice
If you’ve gotten this far in life and aren’t happy, what makes you believe that it will be different in the future? I ask this question not to discourage you but to encourage you to find happiness right here. Research suggests that happiness isn’t in the future; it’s in the moment. Happiness comes from choices that align with what we value and enjoy in life. Maybe we’re unhappy because our choices haven’t gotten us the things we want. Sometimes we avoid that uncomfortable feeling by using the future to distract ourselves from our past choices. But what could be more helpful is to understand that we have the power to make choices that give us the possibility of a better future.
Learning to Trust Myself
I’m learning to limit how much I rely on astrology, and although it hasn’t been easy, it’s been liberating. I still look into it, but not as much as I used to. I’ve discovered that although astrology can make predictions, it doesn’t guarantee an outcome. I’m learning to rely less on the stars and more on my choices. I can’t control astrology, but I can control the decisions I make today. I would like you to think about this question: How do you feel about the unknown? It might lead you to something insightful.