Episode #392 – How to Keep Moving Through Uncertain Times

This is episode 392 of the Brilliant Balance podcast, “How to Keep Moving Through Uncertain Times.” So welcome to the show.

I am excited to sit down and do a brand new episode for you today. It really feels like an important time to be discussing this subject, given how much uncertainty is swirling in the environment right now.

I haven’t had a single conversation in the last several weeks that hasn’t been grounded in this topic. And of course, it makes sense—just look at how many different places we’re experiencing this extreme level of uncertainty.

I have lots of thoughts to share with you today, ideas that I’m going to unpack. But before I get into those, I want to share one other thing at the top of the episode, and then we’ll dig into all things uncertainty.

One thing we know we need in times of uncertainty is clarity. I’m hosting a live workshop on May 8th that’s focused on helping you find that clarity. Mark your calendar for Thursday, May 8th, 2025, at 1:30 PM Eastern Time.

This workshop is about helping you find clarity even in times of uncertainty—clarity about what you want, and ultimately the courage to go for it. If you’ve never joined one of my workshops, this is your chance to be interactive, live.

You’ll learn some tools that I think will help you this year and beyond. I’ll link it in the show notes as well. But you can also go to brilliant-balance.com/clarity to register and save your spot.

Plan to join me. It’ll take about an hour, and it’s packed with a very practical model you can use to find clarity and keep moving forward. Come live if at all possible, but yes—there will be a replay. So even if you can’t attend live, you can still watch it later if you’re registered.

Back to today’s topic: uncertainty and how we manage through these chapters of unknowns. Think about how it feels when you know you’re in a time with a lot of unknowns, a lot of variables.

Have you ever gotten to the place where you feel like you just can’t make a move? Like there are so many variables and unknowns that you’re frozen in place?

That’s what uncertainty can do—it can almost paralyze us. It happens to the best of us. It’s part of the fight, flight, or freeze response. When there is so much uncertainty, we can feel so anxious that we shut down.

The question is: what if we could learn to keep moving forward anyway? Even without a clear view of what’s ahead, what might that open up?

Given the environment we’re in—massive economic shifts, stock market volatility, and global uncertainty—you might also be facing personal uncertainty. Health issues, job changes, organizational volatility—these can all make us feel rudderless.

I’ve gone through chapters like this myself. I deal with uncertainty pretty well—better than a lot of people. I’m good at making plans and contingency plans. Maybe you are, too. But everyone has a breaking point.

It becomes more intense when it’s personal. Global uncertainty can sometimes be easier to handle because we’re all in it together. But when it’s deeply personal, it can lead to complete inaction.

So today, we’ll explore why uncertainty is so paralyzing and what we can do to stay resilient and keep moving forward.

Uncertainty is a normal part of life—arguably the only constant. But our brains hate it. We are biologically wired to seek certainty because it helps us feel safe.

When we don’t know what’s coming, our stress response kicks in, trying to avoid perceived danger—even if the danger isn’t real.

The brain actually prefers a predictable negative outcome over an unpredictable one. Wild, right? The pain of uncertainty is worse than a known bad outcome.

The amygdala activates a stress response stronger than what’s triggered by a known threat. That’s why uncertainty feels so intense.

There are three reasons uncertainty causes us stress:

1. Fear of making the wrong decision
   We worry we’ll choose the wrong job, investment, or say the wrong thing. This fear leads to analysis paralysis—we overthink every option and end up doing nothing. But we often overestimate the cost of a wrong decision and underestimate our ability to recover. The key is to trust that we can pivot, course correct, and keep moving.

2. Loss of control
   We walk around with an illusion of control. Uncertainty strips that away, creating anxiety and helplessness. We want guarantees, but we have to learn that we can move forward without them. Otherwise, we risk learned helplessness.

3. Tying our self-worth to outcomes
   When we tie our identity to specific results, we raise the stakes unnecessarily. Research on goal detachment shows that letting go of rigid outcomes and staying flexible leads to better well-being and resilience. You don’t need to nail it on the first try—you can course correct.

So how do you keep moving forward? Here are four ways:

• Shift from outcome-focus to process-focus.
  Ask, “What’s the next right thing I can do?” Focus on what’s right in front of you. One action at a time reveals clarity and builds courage.

• Stay in agency.
  Anchor into what you can control. Routines, habits, and foundational practices like sleep, nutrition, movement, and planning time reduce cognitive load and boost confidence.

• Practice psychological flexibility.
  Embrace “both/and” thinking: “This is hard, and I will handle it one step at a time.” Mindfulness, journaling, and talking it out can help expand your emotional perspective.

• Don’t go it alone.
  Talk to someone who gets you—trusted friends, experts, or coaches. Be mindful about who you confide in, so they support rather than inflame your anxiety. People with lived experience can offer valuable perspective.

The good news is that you don’t need the full map. You only need the next step and the courage to take it. Taking small, courageous actions builds clarity, confidence, and resilience.

So think about one place—maybe more—where you feel paralyzed by uncertainty. What small step can you take today?

It’s a lot right now, and I don’t want to pretend it’s not. But we are walking through it together. If I can support you, if my team can support you, we’re here. You can DM me on social (@cskolnicki), respond to the podcast, or reach out through the website.

Come to the May 8th workshop—brilliant-balance.com/clarity—to get deeper insight into finding clarity and courage through uncertain times.

That’s all for today. Until next time—let’s be brilliant.