Duncan Wallace, M.D., an Identity Psychotherapist, addressed Humanists of Utah on September 12, 1996. His subject was "Increase Theory," a subject he was responsible for developing, and one that he has used in both his private and professional lives.

Dr. Wallace discussed how our lives constantly move from uncertainty to certainty. It is important to be clear on what you know, and on what you don't know. This allows gaining of confidence from past experience.

People in their late teens tend to be more certain about things in their lives than 24-25 year olds. It is about this time of life that uncertainty is born. You may be both certain and uncertain about the same thing at the same time. Focus on yourself; your mind will seek certainty at all times. Your mind seeks clarity, accomplishment, and well being. Your mind will also seek uncertainty in the form of new things, challenges, and excitement; excitement exists at the edge of the unknown.

Uncertainty is around you all the time, in your awareness and consciousness. Certainty and uncertainty are somewhat analogous to air: 20% oxygen (certainty), 79% nitrogen (uncertainty). Things a long way away don't have much effect on you, closer things have profound effects. A lot of what we do is with an eye to the future; life is linear. Uncertainty is a component of anxiety.

Uncertainty is a component of worry, of discovery, and of exploration. People are lured by positive uncertainty as in, "there's gold in them tar hills," or in a desire to see a grandchild.

Frightening uncertainty can be a barrier to improvement and lead to despair. Despair is a state of being where the old-self and confidence are insufficient to handle a current life crisis. You have to build new capabilities when you are least able. When you being to move out of depression, you are scared and uncertain, and don't think you have the capacity. The road out is best taken one step at a time.

Increase Theory: We grow and increase whether we like it or not. If you consciously seek growth, you are more likely to learn more and be happy. The pains and pleasures of the mind are signals related to increase.

Good, in terms of Increase Theory, is that which allows increase without impinging on others. Evil is that which restricts or controls, or slows the increase without agreement.

Anxiety or fear is a gap signal that you are at the edge of where you are, and where you want to be. Survival requires you to "get safe" and sometimes you don't use the right tools to deal with fear.

Stress of the mind is pressure in the mind. If you do something that relieves it, your mind becomes momentarily clear, but the stress returns. Stress is related to a goal from motivational statements you make to yourself. There is something in the future that you want or don't want. That is not the problem; the illogical is that you say, "I must have this solution." There are always other possibilities. The problem is being illogical about the goal.

Emotions are signals that you are born with that are based on who you are, and what you believe. As you understand your emotions you will be happier and grow. Life continues to be a progress from certainty to uncertainty. Anyone who thinks they have achieved ultimate certainty needs to take up golf to rediscover what uncertainty really is!

--Wayne Wilson