Waiting on Certainty? Try Clarity Instead

In times of change, we look for something solid.

A plan. A perfect next step.

We crave certainty because it feels like safety and control.

Yet, certainty is rarely available (unless you're doing a jigsaw puzzle),

...not in life, not in love, and definitely not in our careers.

Still, we wait for it. We put decisions on hold. We scroll job boards at 2 a.m., hoping to find that one sure thing. We hesitate to act on ideas, conversations, or pivots because we want a guarantee that it will be worth it.

Sometimes clients come to coaching hoping it will give them certainty.

What I tell them is this:

You don’t need certainty to move forward.

You need clarity

What's the difference, you ask?

Certainty vs Clarity

Certainty

• Is predicting outcomes

• Says, “This job will be perfect, and it will all work out exactly as planned."

• Wants turn-by-turn directions, one fixed endpoint, and a guardrail on every curve

• Is rigid

Clarity

• Is knowing yourself and what matters

• Says, "This is a viable path that aligns with my values and goals, and I’m willing to learn along the way.”

• Gives you a compass, a map, and the skill to navigate, even when the road disappears

• Is resilient

Whether you're launching a career, rethinking your trajectory, or stepping into something bigger, you're leaving the familiar behind. 

And in that space between what was and what’s next, we naturally want something solid to land on. But that solid ground? It’s rarely clear from the outset.

Real growth begins when you let go of the need for perfect foresight.

• For mid-career and senior leaders, it may mean exploring a new sector, repositioning your experience, or carving out a more visible internal path, even if the results aren’t guaranteed.

• For early-career professionals and students, that might mean applying for roles that don’t check every box, reaching out to someone for a conversation even when you’re not sure what to say, or taking a course that simply sparks your curiosity.

In both cases, clarity becomes your anchor:

• Clarity about what energizes you

• Clarity about what skills you want to grow

• Clarity about the impact you want to have

You're grounded in the kind of inner knowing that makes forward motion possible, even in the fog.

And, clarity doesn’t require perfect timing or a flawless plan. You can build it through

• reflection.

• conversation.

• tracking what you learn at each step taken.

• willingness to move before you feel “ready."

I've seen the power of this shift firsthand. When people stop chasing guarantees and start building clarity, they make braver, better-aligned decisions and plans.

If you’d like a sounding board in that process, let’s talk.

Whether you’re building your path or reinventing it, clarity is always within reach.

Judy Garfinkel helps you clarify "what's next." Her expertise in building confidence and resilience supports personal development and the ability to navigate career and work transitions, especially now! She is a PCC credentialed coach, certified Trauma-Informed, Whole Person, and Life Purpose and Career Coach. Judy also crafts bespoke resumes, cover letters, LinkedIn profiles, and bios that open doors for her clients and land jobs. Judy is a Past President of the International Coaching Federation - Connecticut Chapter, where she led 250+ member coaches. You can reach her at judy@moveintochange.com.