And I Think to Myself, What a Wobbly World...

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Another year, another global crisis. Why does uncertainty still hold us hostage?

Five years ago, COVID birthed new layers of uncertainty. But 2020 also birthed more billionaires than any other year in history. Hopefully, most of us know by now that uncertainty is a fear tactic, and fear is power. So why is it still so paralysing? Maybe the puppets in the White House are doing a better job at executing it.

As this poster said:

Ever since Brexit and Trump first happened in 2016, the rise of the far right and mass division was inevitable. It only added to the reasons to pack a bag and leave my life in London behind. My travels began with uncertainty. When COVID hit- fear and hysteria were at an all-time high, I started my dream trip around the world and I ended up locked down in India for 9 months. Most of the first year of my travels was spent in a hostel. Instead of dancing at full moon parties in Thailand, I was dancing with strangers when it rained every few weeks because our hostel had 60 people in it and very little food and water...

Even now, five years later, I’m still living with uncertainty. But what’s happening in 2025 takes that to another level... The ‘policies’ of President 🍊🚽 are designed to dispel more uncertainty and make us, the ‘little people’ fight, bicker, and worry.

Fear and uncertainty by design. When do you say enough?

Every time I write this letter, I try to utilise curiosity and the power of what if…

👉🏽What if I did the opposite of what fear demands?

👉🏽What if I could embrace the uncertainty instead?

(I’m trying to)- Uncertainty is a given in this day and age, but we are resilient. We can redefine fear and uncertainty for ourselves, even when everything around us feels chaotic.

On Uncertainty:

The feeling of walking a tightrope in the dark, hoping the line won’t snap beneath us. We try and cling to whatever presents as stable- relationships, possessions, routines, jobs and even an overfilled calendar to preserve our illusion of control.

Why do we find the reality of uncertainty so unsettling? Perhaps it’s because we’re wired for predictability and answers from the first day we step into the classroom.

When we fear uncertainty, fear quickly creeps in that our 'control' is being taken away from us. A symptom of losing control is allowing the 'what ifs' to take over, letting our minds spin into a tornado of unknowns. It’s often in these moments of unknowns that we’re held back from truly living in the present.

Resisting uncertainty sucks the joy out of everything. That resistance builds a fear of the unknown. The pressure to make the next ‘right choice’ has crippled me in many moments of 2024. Why? Because from childhood, we’ve been taught to seek stability... We know, if we’re in a stable job, no one questions our income. If we’re in a stable relationship, no one digs too deep. Often, we can present as being in a stable place, while our physical and emotional worlds are inherently uncertain and ever-changing.

Travel and Indecision… Freeing myself from the cycle.

As mentioned, I’m still on the road. Every month/week/day is an exercise in decision-making. Where will I live? Who will I be with? Will the next hostel even have a working shower? Will there be Wi-Fi at the airport? Psh.

(This is an aspect of travel life many people don’t expect, but it’s a less glamorous reality.)

An example: At 11.30 pm on NYE 2024, I sat on my balcony in Pai in Northern Thailand with a hot cuppa, reflecting on a wild and wonderful year of joy and pain. I felt at peace closing the year on my own and watching the Chinese lanterns and epic fireworks light the night sky. The contrast reminded me of the violence and peace 2024 held for so many of us. In the silence, I could hear music vibrating over the distant mountains, and my most pressing thought became what the hell was I going to do tonight? The question: Should I go out? Became bedlam. I found myself thinking…

• Of course you should go out. It’s New Year’s Eve, duh.

• Meh whatever. I should just go to bed now and sleep through the new year. Who wants to be amongst that madness anyway?

• Yeah… No. Staying in sounds good. Easy.

• But…

I did not stay in.

I went out and had a great time.

I lit a lantern with my Thai host family and other people from the guesthouse. Then, with no expectations, I walked onto the streets of Pai, found James and Sarah, did the countdown and even randomly bumped into someone I met in India almost 5 years ago!

What hit me around midnight, is how much I can ponder a decision, and how crippling the uncertainty around that decision can be.

And just how happy I was, that I left the house.

The travel lifestyle means constantly navigating unfamiliar grounds and having to make every decision about your life. It still unsettles me sometimes and I can still find myself agonising over the simplest decisions. Feeling so uncertain about which way to go next. Weighing up and overanalysing my options and trying to get it right.

But we only drive ourselves crazy because we have the privilege of choice. A privilege that 80% of the world’s population doesn’t have.

With the privilege of choice, sometimes you just have to leap…

Releasing the Illusion of Control: 3 tips I’ve learnt:

1. Connect with nature and walk often🌿:

What better way to get away from the TV, daunting news and social media? These days I’ll pick a 40-minute walk over renting a scooter or getting a taxi. Commit to walking as much as you can every day, whatever the weather. Your mind and body will thank you for it.

2. Embrace Cat Energy- get curios😽:

There is no next right choice. But if there was, it is usually the option you are resisting. This is where cat energy comes in, with curiosity and patience. The cat is independent of outside influence, does what she wants, but also loves company.

3. Goals without deadlines- Do more of what you love ❤️ 

I’m a strong believer in goals and manifesting what we want in life. But do we need a deadline for everything? Taking small steps each day with your goals in mind will result in growth either way. For example, imagine reading a book on property investments without setting a date for when you want to buy a property. Or rather than rapid weight loss for your beach holiday in March, how about focusing on your health and relationship with food? Let go of the destination and enjoy the process.

Final Thoughts:

Have you had enough of the uncertainty and fear?

While uncertainty is an unavoidable part of life as a human, recent years have amplified its presence in ways we couldn’t have imagined. As humans, we're naturally inclined to set goals, and have aspirations or specific dates we're working towards- almost always with an end goal in mind.

But nothing is set in stone, and that’s the beauty of life.

No matter what you decide, you can always adjust course.

You will always land on your feet.

Bob Goff, a motivational speaker and author once said, "Embrace uncertainty, some of the most beautiful chapters in our lives don't even have a title yet". This could not be more true.

Having choices is a blessing, and a curse if you let it be.

But uncertainty doesn’t have to suffocate us.

Embracing it can empower us.

If the world insists on being wobbly, we might as well learn to dance.

That’s it for today friends, you can reach me here to learn more about my work or to book time with me.

If you would like to support my writing and journey, buying me a coffee helps! For more info, see my website ❤️