Illustration of a person standing between two windows—one showing soft morning light and the other bright sky—symbolizing the tension between pausing and pivoting during uncertain times.

The swift changes of the coronavirus era upended life—and for many, brought the tension between pivoting during crisis and simply pausing to recalibrate. I found myself reaching out to others, checking in, eager to connect wherever we all happened to land.

For me, that feeling of connecting to others in a time of change, anxiety, confusion, and misinformation is a way of getting back to basics: we’re human. We require contact, love, and community. We crave non-judgmental acknowledgment of where we are.

What's become clear is that many of us were pulled between two things that seemed at odds—pivoting fast out of overwhelm, or pausing to let clarity catch up.

🌪Needing to pivot…

This is that slightly overwhelming energy where it feels we’re failing if we’re not turning this into a positive and productive moment. Some of the messages we’re receiving include pressure to improve our mindset, create better schedules, take an online course, or start planning for the next thing (even though we can't possibly have all the information we need). Which is one supposed to do first, I wonder?

✋Wanting to pause…

Taking a moment to recenter, process, and start to integrate the vast changes happening around us on every level.

For most of us, we’re seeking to put solid ground under our feet in what feels like a groundless moment; certainty in uncertain times. By “tackling” our uncertainty and pivoting, were providing a short-lived relief, but not one that will stay with us.

Illustration of a bonsai tree and a green sprout side-by-side on a windowsill, symbolizing the tension between rest and growth during uncertain times.

As this time is re-teaching us, certainty is not always something that we can rely on.

The question is how do we navigate uncertainty without adding on heaps of judgment as to what we should be feeling or doing, but instead, just be there, right now, as you are?

✅ Be in dialogue responsibly. I’ve been catching myself calling these “crazy times” and using panicked language in describing possible future scenarios. By doing this, I was creating more panic for myself and others than was necessary, and I noticed it kept me firmly rooted in that energy after the conversation was long over. Using language responsibly lets us acknowledge what we’re all feeling, and also allows space for what we believe. For me, I believe we’re all incredibly smart, capable, and motivated at the moment. This challenge will be figured out, and we’ll be there for each other while we’re doing it. I’m 100% sure.

✅ Balance your basic instincts. The news right now has a compulsive, magnetic quality to it. Whether you get yours from a television, newspaper, news app, or a social media platform, it feels like there’s no “shallow end of the pool” any longer. We often get sucked right into the deep end and can stay there for hours, clicking, watching, and feeding the anxiety monster as it tells us we’ll feel better once we have a little more information. Try to limit your intake of news to once or twice a day (I check it first thing in the morning and then after dinner) and do your best to break the habit of craving more information to combat feelings of uncertainty.

✅ Go into retreat. When we think of retreating, we often think of it in the militaristic sense, which is the strategic act of withdrawing into safety. However, there’s a real connection to the spiritual act of being on retreat as well, which is to create a purposeful space of seclusion and refuge. This can take many forms, be it a meditative practice, going for long solo hikes, or simply spending some quality time with yourself. By committing ourselves to not being distracted, we’re not only awakened to the wisdom and calm of our minds, but also to our habits to grasp for certainty and run screaming from discomfort. But, if we’re able to make friends with the hamster wheel we call our minds, we can start to settle down, not be as reactive, and be grounded all on our own, circumstances be damned.

If you’re wondering how to move forward with integrity when everything feels uncertain—pause without guilt, pivot when clarity begins to emerge. We don’t have to pretend to know the answers. We just need the trust to meet ourselves here. Our ability to rest and to adjust—both matter in how we lead our lives and our work.