Overcoming Fear of the Unknown: 3 Mindset Shifts for Change
There is a lot of uncertainty right now. And many people are feeling a shift – something they can’t quite name.
And it’s not just on personal levels but nationally and globally.
Some people aren’t sure if they can plan family vacations or other travel.
Some foreigners aren’t sure if they should visit the US right now.
Others aren’t sure when they’ll land their next client or job offer.
And if I’m being honest, I’m navigating my own uncertainties. Betting on yourself as an entrepreneur takes faith and self-confidence through unknown paths. Trusting your ability to make data-driven decisions with speed and accuracy.
And you don’t always get it “right”.
No matter which uncertainty you may be dealing with currently, the underlying sentiment is the same: is the other shoe going to drop? What will the next few weeks – or even days – bring?
What Fear of the Unknown Looks Like in Real Life
Uncertainty doesn’t always feel like panic or dread. Sometimes, it looks like:
Procrastinating
Making endless pros and cons lists
Getting stuck in analysis paralysis
Choosing “safety” over growth.
Sometimes, uncertainty looks like staying in a role you’ve outgrown because you don’t know what’s next. Or second-guessing every decision, even the ones that used to feel easy.
For high-performing women, especially Black women, this fear can be even more layered. Many of us have been conditioned to always have the answer. To be the strong one. To avoid risk because others are depending on us to be stable.
So when we’re invited into the unknown, it can feel like failure, even when it’s the first step toward freedom.
But here’s what I’ve learned: fear of the unknown is a signal.
It’s a cue that something important is shifting, and you get to decide how you respond.
What Causes Fear of the Unknown?
According to a Healthline article, fear of the unknown often comes down to two core things:
Lack of predictability – When you can’t see what’s ahead, your brain treats it like a threat.
Lack of control – Feeling powerless in uncertain situations can make you avoid taking any action at all.
This shows up in everyday life more than we realize:
Waiting to apply for a new job until you “feel more confident.”
Postponing a difficult conversation because you don’t know how the other person will react.
Holding back from launching a business or creative project because you don’t have all the answers yet.
But waiting for clarity doesn’t always bring it. Sometimes, clarity only comes after you take the first step.
That’s where mindset comes in.
It takes practice to shift our mindsets. But sometimes, we have to be honest with ourselves about the beliefs we hold onto, especially around change and uncertainty.
When you shift your perspective, uncertainty becomes an opportunity, not a threat.
These 3 shifts will help you embrace change with less stress.
Mindset Shift #1: From “Fear is bad” → to “Fear means growth is happening”.
Many of us have been taught to avoid fear at all costs. To push it down. To override it. To pretend it’s not there.
And many people of faith are taught that if you are afraid, then your faith must not be strong enough.
That belief can lead to shame around fear, instead of curiosity. But even in faith traditions, fear shows up in sacred texts with reminders to be not afraid. And that’s because fear is human. What matters most is how we respond to it.
What if fear is just your brain’s way of saying, We’ve never been here before, and I don’t know how to respond?
Every major shift in my life has come with some level of fear. The fear never fully disappears, but my relationship with it changed.
I started treating fear as a data point, not a decision-maker. I noticed that the more aligned I became with my purpose, the scarier some choices felt. Because they mattered. Because they required me to trust myself.
In fact, I’m starting to recognize when I’m actually afraid vs when my brain is just adjusting to something new. When I’m truly scared, it’s almost as though I can feel my fight or flight response activate.
When I’m scared of the unknown or uncertainty, the fear subsides when I take the time to pause and acknowledge a new step.
So the next time fear shows up, ask yourself:
Is this fear because I’m in danger, or because I’m stepping into something new?
Mindset Shift #2: From “I’m scared of the impact” → to “I trust this change is aligned with my purpose.”
Fear often tries to convince us that change will ruin everything. That one wrong move will mess up all we’ve built. That change is a threat.
But most, if not all ,l change is to refine us. It’s for our good.
Sometimes we hold on to the familiar out of obligation or image, even though what we've outgrown no longer serves who we’re becoming.
I worked with a life coach in the past who told me that I used to brace for impact. I always had a contingency or back up plan “in case things go wrong”. That’s likely from the years I worked in corporate event management and had contingencies for every plan and budget.
She challenged me to brace for a steady landing instead. A soft landing.
And that’s when I started shifting from bracing for impact to trusting that change is aligned with my purpose. And if it’s for my purpose, I can prepare for a steady landing… even if there’s some turbulence on the way.
Transitions aren’t linear. They’re journeys that often take longer than we want. But even the bumpy parts of the journey can lead to a steady, soft arrival.
Mindset Shift #3: From “I’m scared of the unknown” → to “The unknown is where possibilities live”.
The unknown is uncomfortable, but it’s also where your next chapter begins.
When you hold on to what you know and don’t allow yourself to evolve, you only repeat what’s already been done. But when you step into what you don’t know, you create room for what you’ve never experienced before.
New opportunities. New rhythms. New ways of being. Even new feelings that you’ve never experienced.
You expand.
Your perspective stretches. Your capacity deepens. Your empathy and compassion grows. And more often than not, you discover strengths about yourself that you didn’t know you had. And it was all because you gave yourself permission to explore.
This doesn’t mean abandoning logic or reasoning. (I’m actually a very practical person despite a history of strategic risks).
It means staying open to possibilities beyond your current perspective. And allowing yourself to be open to a world better than what you can even imagine.
The unknown is usually different, and many people think different means wrong or bad. It’s why those who challenge the status quo are often met with resistance from those wanting things to stay the same. From those who benefit from things staying the same.
What if the unknown isn’t here to punish you – it’s here to help you expand.
A Reframe for Uncertainty
Try this quick journaling exercise the next time fear of the unknown creeps in:
What story am I telling myself about this situation?
Is it based on fact or assumption?
What would I do if I trusted that I could handle whatever comes next?
You don’t need to eliminate fear. You just need to lead yourself through it.
Reflection: Self-Trust Is the Real Strategy
In uncertain times, self-trust becomes your compass.
You may not be able to control every outcome. But you can control how you show up. You can honor your needs, adjust your pace, and decide what alignment looks like for you in this season.
Transitions are not about knowing everything—they’re about being willing to listen to yourself and respond accordingly.
You don’t have to leap. You just have to move one step closer to the life you want.
A Gentle Next Step
If this post resonated with you, you might appreciate my Self-Trust Journal: a guided resource to help you reconnect with yourself, release limiting beliefs, and move forward with clarity. It’s designed to support you in seasons of change, especially when the unknown feels loud.
👉 Download the Self-Trust Journal for $17
And if you're thinking of exiting a role you’ve outgrown but don’t know where to begin, stay tuned. I have something coming soon to help you make your next move with intention.