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Embrace Uncertainty and Reset Your Mindset
- Chelsey Gilbert
- May 26
- 5 min read
Embracing Uncertainty & Moving Through Analysis Paralysis
By Chelsey Gilbert LMT| Transformative Journeys Therapeutic Bodywork & Transfomative Talks Podcast
We Can Do Hard Things
What if the thing you’ve been avoiding…is actually the doorway to your next season of growth?
Starting something new can feel incredibly vulnerable. Whether it’s launching a business, beginning therapy, trying bodywork, setting boundaries, or finally pursuing a dream that’s been sitting on your heart for years—newness often brings discomfort with it.
And yet, some of the most transformative moments in our lives begin the exact same way:
With uncertainty. Recently, while reflecting on recording over 20 episodes of my podcast, Transformative Talks, I realized something important:
Every meaningful thing I’ve done in my life has required me to move through discomfort first.
Not because I felt completely ready.Not because I had everything figured out.But because I eventually became more afraid of staying stuck than I was of trying.
Why Do We Freeze When We Want to Grow?
So many people think they lack motivation, discipline, or confidence. But often, what’s actually happening is something much deeper: The nervous system is trying to keep them safe.
Our brains are wired to prioritize familiarity. Even if a situation is no longer supportive, the body often interprets the familiar as “safe” simply because it’s known.
Starting something new can feel overwhelming, and often times our brain will talk us out of taking steps towards this new venture. Big decisions can create shutdown or overthinking. Its like our alarm system can signal danger, even if there is no real threat. This can cause us to procrastinate things we deeply want and stay in cycles that no longer align with us
Not because we’re lazy or incapable—but because our systems are trying to protect us from uncertainty. Understanding this changes the conversation. Instead of asking:“What’s wrong with me?” We can begin asking:“What part of me is trying to stay safe right now?” That shift creates compassion.And compassion can create safety so there can actually be movement.
Understanding Analysis Paralysis
Analysis paralysis happens when thinking replaces action. We over-research.Over-plan.Overthink.
We wait until we feel: Fully prepared, completely confident and certain of the outcome. The funny thing is, no one can ever be FULLY prepared. Most of the time, we have a false sense of confidence when we move into most things. Nothing in life is certain, but there can be a peace in knowing this. Healing, growth, creativity, and transformation rarely rely on certainty and preparedness.
The truth is: These things often happen through movement—not before it. And while reflection is valuable, there comes a point where overthinking becomes a form of self-protection that quietly keeps us stuck.
My Podcast Venture Has Taught Me This...
When I started my podcast, I didn’t feel fully ready. I questioned if people would listen, if I had enough experience, whether I sounded “professional" enough and if I could consistently show up
And honestly...some days I still question myself. But every time I hit record, I’m reminded that growth doesn’t come from waiting until fear disappears. It comes from learning that you can move with fear present. That’s what retrains the brain. Every small moment of courage tells your nervous system:“This is unfamiliar… but survivable.” And over time, what once felt terrifying begins to feel possible.
It’s Okay to Start Small
One of the biggest misconceptions about transformation is that it has to happen all at once.
It doesn’t. Sometimes growth can look like:
Making the phone call (You will feel relief to get it done)
Booking the session (Your self-care matters)
Posting the video (You can always take it down if you want)
Taking the walk (You always feel better after)
Saying no (Boundaries are a big theme for me! Probably what I struggle with the most)
Resting instead of pushing through (Burnout is never good for anyone)
Small actions matter because they build evidence.
Evidence that you can handle discomfort, survive uncertainty and trust yourself
The nervous system learns through experience—not force.
Healing & Growth Often Feel Similar
This is something I see often in bodywork and somatic healing. People assume that because something feels uncomfortable, it must be wrong. But discomfort and misalignment are not always the same thing. Sometimes discomfort means moving beyond old pattern and learning new ways of being. Allowing yourself to be seen and vulnerable are very touchy subjects for most people. When we start to allow ourselves to feel emotions that were previously suppressed, it can feel like standing naked in front of an audience. Everything is exposed and bare.
Choosing something healthier than what is familiar can just feel strange. There is no getting around it. There is a part of a nursery rhyme/children's song that goes " We can't go over it, we can't go under it...OH NO! We have to go through it!". Try singing this to yourself when you are facing something difficult, it lightens the mood, I promise. Going though it may be intimidating, but at least there is movement towards getting to the other side of it. There’s a difference between your intuition saying “this isn’t for me”and fear saying “this is unfamiliar” Learning to distinguish between the two is part of the journey.
You Do Not Need to Have It All Figured Out
One of the most freeing realizations in my own healing and business journey has been this:
No one has it all figured out. Most people are learning as they go.Adjusting. Evolving. Becoming.
The goal is not perfection.The goal is willingness to change.
You are allowed to begin before you feel ready. You are allowed to grow slowly. And you are allowed to take imperfect action while you figure things out along the way. Because transformation rarely happens inside the comfort zone. It happens in the moments where we gently decide:“This scares me…but I think I’m ready to meet myself here.”
Questions Worth Reflecting On
Take a moment and ask yourself:
What have I been avoiding lately?
What feels scary—but also meaningful?
Where am I waiting to feel “ready”?
What small step could I take today?
Not next month.Not when everything is perfect.
Today.
Want to hear more on this subject and others like it? Listen to Transformative Talks (Available on most streaming platforms)
Check out episode 20, "We Can Do Hard Things" where I share more about my story and how I have moved through uncertainty into confidence (for some things, not all...I am a work in progress) Season 2 of Transformative Talks is coming soon, and I’m so excited to continue exploring healing, nervous system awareness, body connection, intuition, and personal growth together.
Because none of us are meant to navigate transformation alone.
YOUTUBE EPISODE
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