Uncertainty and Decisions

Shimmy, ya, shimmy yey

Today’s letter is inspired by three weeks of open workshops and a conversation that showed up in each of them.

The making of making decisions (and getting out of uncertainty and the rotten rut).

Now, I’ll try something new.

Instead of telling you a story about it first, let me get right to it this time.

Make it Early

Before you even have tried to figure out how to make things happen, make a decision.

And make it based on where you want to be - not where you are.

As a result, what you truly want will happen sooner and smoother than ever.

It's a habit I first heard of when reading the book “Think and Grow Rich” in 2017, and later was taught in my energy course.

The first time I really tried it out was a goosebump moment I will never forget.

So, if you are up for a story, let me take you back to the middle of February 2025…

Uncertainty

I’m sitting at home feeling that familiar feeling of not knowing what to do and how to make things happen.

I know that as of the 21st of February, I’ll have to find another place to live as the place I’m living in now would host a BIG group event, so my apartment would be needed to host guests.

And I knew that at the same time, a great friend of mine, Hannes, was having his birthday.

But I also knew that I didn’t have the finances to just travel around, rent another flat, and do whatever I liked.

In addition, my birthday was coming up, and I wanted to create something special for that.

So, what to do?

Where should I go from the 21st of February? What should I do for my birthday? What should I do for Hannes’s birthday?

And the more I looked, the more questions arrived, and the more I began feeling the pressure, overwhelm, and stress build up together with the growing frustration of uncertainty.

Arghhh - sooo anoying.

A lesson of 2024

Right then, I remembered that one of the greatest lessons from last year was this concept of decisions: make it early.

But don’t make it based on where you are right now, your current situation. Make it based on where you want to be,

So, I sat down and asked myself, what feels most exciting?

I put my hand on my chest, closed my eyes, and began imagining future scenarios:

• Scenario 1: going to Barcelona, staying with some friends, calling Hannes for his birthday, and that’s it - meeeeh, I could feel it, NOOO. It was all rational; logistically, it would be super easy, but a sense of dreadfulness and boredom entered my body by just thinking of it.

• Scenario 2: going to Hannes (he lives in Austria) and surprising him for his birthday, and staying with him during the time I had to be away - I was smiling like an idiot, it felt better than good (said in a deep soul voice), but how would I make it there? Financially?

• Scenario 3: (of course, there were three options on the table, even a fourth one, but it’s not even worth mentioning) going to my brother’s in Sweden and stay there until my birthday and for the first time celebrate it with my family for a decade or two - njaeeeyy, mmmm, eeeeeh. The hesitation was profound, and once I caught myself sitting there reasoning like a scientist with myself. No.

So, it’s going to Hannes.

I could feel the excitement bubble up.

“Alright, and how on Earth am I supposed to do that?”

This is where that energy teaching and previous experience kicked in; I had to go all in.

So, I messaged Hannes’s girlfriend who was organizing his surprise and told her that I’m coming, BUT I also told her I am in a tricky financial situation and I have my own birthday coming up.

“I understand the financials”, she said. “Don’t worry about that, what’s important is to have a good time with good people, and I know he will be so happy that you are coming.”

The next day

Elisabeth, who is my client and is hosting me in one of her apartments, asked, “What will you do for the weekend of the event?”

A slight nervousness and uncertainty in my chest.

Deep breath.

“I’m going to Austria”, I said (Hannes lives in the middle of the Austrian Alps, Innsbruck)

“Oh how nice”, she said. “Do you have the money?”

“No”, I said. “I don’t.”

“Ok, so how will you get there?”, she asked.

“I’m not sure”, I replied. “But I saw that there’s a bus going straight from Barcelona and it’s only about 100€.”

“Bus”, she gasps (a one-way trip would take 26 hours).

“You are not going by bus. Let’s check flights”, she continues.

I had already done the research, but right then, I felt it more than heard it:

The bus to Innsbruck goes via Munich, so what if I check a flight to Munich and then take the bus from there?

I hop over to Skycanner, check all viable options with Vueling, Ryanir, and EasyJet. Nothing.

Now pay attention…

See what I did there?

I was looking for an answer among the commonly cheapest options = I was in a mindset of scarcity.

And as I noticed that, I thought to myself: let’s check Lufthansa, just in case.

The first result shows a ticket for 52 € each way if I purchased a return ticket Munich-Barcelona.

I’m staring at the screen.

It can’t be true.

That price with Lufthansa?

Decision time - again.

I was planning to keep the return option open as I hadn’t asked him how long I could stay (and I preferred to keep the door open for how to get back).

But again, the same notion as at the beginning came to me - make the decision early AND based on what I want.

Do I want to sit on a bus for 26 hours?

Nooooo. I mean, I could (said my scarcity mindset), but noooo.

So, I looked up from my phone and said to Elisabeth, “I found a flight ticket, 52 euros each way.”

“See, that’s even cheaper than the bus”, she says. “And I would really love you to enjoy this moment, so let me pay half of the full price it takes you to travel there and back.”

I'm stunned.

“Really? Why?”, I ask.

“Don’t ask why, just receive it”, she says (and if you’ve been with me for a while, you know that magic and my journey with receiving help).

Thank you, I say.

Money solved.

How to get there solved.

Surprised or not surprised?

The 20th of February arrive and the ENTIRE trip is smoother than a baby’s butt.

You know that feeling when you know that this was meant to be appears?

This was it.

The train to the bus, the bus to the airport, the flight to Munich, the bus from Munich to Innsbruck, and the bus from Innsbruck to Hannes's.

Not a hiccup.

Now, all that’s missing is to see if we managed to surprise him and if I can stay there until my booked return trip (but that’s a story for the next time). 😉

The point is, a week before I arrived in Innsbruck, I didn’t even know I would be there. I hadn’t made the decision.

I didn’t have the money

I didn’t know how I would get there.

But as the teaching goes: make your decision BEFORE you know if it will work out or how you will make it happen.

Common mistakes…

Keeping your doors open for more “opportunities" - only creates greater uncertainty, unwanted results, and slow growth.

Waiting, postponing, and procrastinating - wait a minute, I know you, you call it logic and reasons, I get it, you are smart, but no, you are procrastinating - only creates greater uncertainty, unwanted results, and slow growth.

Being in your current or scarcity state of mind when making a decision - only creates greater uncertainty, unwanted results, and slow growth.

Get out of your head…

And into your body, envision what you really desire and make A decision from there today.

The rest will follow (and I’m not saying you are done making decisions from there 😉).

You will know what decision to make once you make a decision he he.

Make it Early

I have countless stories of these.

The last years were brutal with them, from the moment my apartment went up in smoke to how I ended up living in Lyon for the summer.

Becoming aware of how this works and consciously building this habit have made me laugh like crazy, thinking life is really magic - and crazy at the same time.

So, what’s the next decision that awaits you?

Make it, and enjoy the ripple effect that follows.

Please, send me your story, or maybe you already have stories like these?

Send me them and help me give everyone else who are sitting in that uncertainty/hesitation box a kick in the butt so they can come ALIVE.

However, I am fully aware of one thing …

It all becomes a waaay smoother experience doing this work together, with a person in the corner who gets you.

When I tried to tell friends about this, they just rolled their eyes.

So, if you are willing to trust the unknown with someone in your back - I’m a message away, and as I’ve held this role for many others, it would be an honor kicking your butt and holding you on track too. 😍

Or do you want to keep feeling overwhelmed and navigating more unwanted results by fighting for certainty and control - before you make a decision?

With love, jazz, and sass,
Erik

— — —

📌 P.S. I was soooo close to sharing this as a podcast instead of a newsletter. So may I ask, do you prefer to hear about these stories, lessons, and tips via:

• A podcast?

• A newsletter?

• A LIVE online/offline event?

✍️ Just reply with “Podcast" for podcast and so forth; I’m looking forward to hearing what your preferred inspiration channel is.

_{Written 100% human, 100% AI-free.}