Navigating Uncertainty

Read time: 3.5 minutes

Have you ever stood on the edge of a decision, not knowing if it’s the right move, but feeling deep down that something needs to change? I’ve been there too.

In fact, I’m there right now.

Lately, I’ve been wrestling with a decision about the content I create. After years of focusing heavily on minimalism and decluttering, I’m feeling the pull to expand beyond that. I want to share more about the lessons I’m learning in real time, beyond just simplifying life. But here’s the thing: pivoting my content feels uncertain. It’s a bit scary.

What if it doesn’t resonate? What if I lose people?

Maybe you’re feeling a similar uncertainty in your own life—whether in your career, a personal decision, or a big transition you’re going through. Here’s the truth: we all face uncertainty. But the way forward isn’t always clear, and that’s okay.

Today, I want to share with you some steps I’m using to navigate this uncertainty, and hopefully, they can help you too. 

Let’s dive in.

Why We Fear Uncertainty

When we face uncertainty, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and stuck. We don’t know the outcome, so we hesitate. We stay in our heads, playing out all the possible scenarios of what could go wrong.

But here’s the thing—I’ve realized that most of the time, the real issue isn’t the uncertainty itself.

The real issue is that we’re unclear about what we want or what steps to take next.

Without clarity, uncertainty feels like an endless fog. And that fog can keep you from moving forward.

The way out of that fog? Clear thinking.

But let me be real with you: clear thinking doesn’t mean you’ll have all the answers upfront.

It’s about knowing what you want, without the noise of outside opinions, judgment, or fear of disappointing others.

For me, I realized I had to sit down and get honest with myself about what I wanted for my content—and, more importantly, why I wanted to pivot. I had to clear my mind of the “what-ifs” and focus on what felt right.

If you’re feeling stuck in uncertainty, I’d encourage you to do the same. Take some time to write out your thoughts.

• What do you really want?
• What’s holding you back?
• What small step can you take today, even if it’s messy or imperfect?

From here, I’ve committed to keeping two ideas at the forefront of my mind: focusing on the process instead of the outcome, and embracing imperfection as part of growth.

#1 Focus on the Process, Not the Outcome

Here’s the thing that’s been helping me: shifting my focus away from the outcome and toward the process.

I’ve caught myself thinking, “What if this pivot doesn’t work? What if I lose part of my audience?” But focusing on the end result only feeds the uncertainty.

So instead, I’ve started thinking of this pivot as an experiment—something I’m going to explore and learn from along the way.

This shift has been freeing.

It’s helped me realize that clarity often comes after we start taking action, not before. 

By focusing on the process, I’m giving myself permission to try, to learn, and to adjust as I go. And you can too.

#2 Embrace Imperfection

This is probably the hardest part: embracing the fact that things might not go perfectly—and that’s okay.

Perfectionism is just a form of procrastination. It keeps us waiting for the “right” moment or the perfect plan.

But waiting for perfection is the quickest way to stay stuck. Trust me.

So instead of waiting, take action.

Move forward, even if you’re not 100% sure of every detail. The clarity you’re looking for is often found on the other side of action.

For me, just taking the first steps toward this pivot has brought me more clarity than I could have imagined while sitting in indecision.

A Simple Exercise to Get Unstuck

If you’re dealing with uncertainty right now, I want you to try something simple:

Take 10 minutes today to write down the answers to these questions:

1. What do I want?
2. What’s holding me back?
3. What small step can I take today?

Write without editing or second-guessing yourself. The goal isn’t to get it perfect. It’s to get clear and get moving.

Final Thoughts: Relief, Excitement, and Hope

Here’s the beautiful thing about taking that first step: it brings relief. You’ll feel a weight lifted just by knowing you tried. And once you start moving, that initial relief will often turn into excitement—excitement about the possibilities, excitement about building momentum.

And most importantly, you’ll begin to feel hope. Because every step forward, no matter how small, is progress.

Guess what? This newsletter issue you’re reading right now is my first step in this new direction. I’m navigating my own uncertainty about pivoting content, and at this moment, I’m feeling both the relief of getting started and the excitement of what comes next.

I’m in this with you. I’m taking these steps right alongside you, embracing imperfection and moving forward one step at a time.

Let’s do this together.

See you next Sunday.