Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Have you ever found yourself paralyzed by a major life decision, desperately wishing you just had the right answer?
In this episode of the show, I sit down with author and journalist Simone Stolzoff to dive into a topic we all struggle with: our deep aversion to the unknown. Simone shares the inspiration behind his latest book, How to Not Know: The Value of Uncertainty in a World That Demands Answers, and breaks down how our hyper-connected world has ruined our ability to sit with ambiguity.
If you're tired of overthinking, catastrophizing, or trying to control the future, this episode is exactly what you need to expand your window of tolerance and reclaim your peace.
By the end of this conversation, you’ll discover:
🔸The true connection between your career, identity, and the need for certainty.
🔸Why your brain is biologically wired to treat the unknown as a threat—and how to switch out of "survival mode."
🔸Simple, actionable ways to practice uncertainty tolerance in low-stakes situations to build your resilience.
🔸The mental shift you need to choose curiosity over fear and turn ambiguity into your greatest asset.
Find Simone at:
simonestolzoff.com
instagram.com/thepizza_bagel
📚 Too Much Book: hfcbook.com
📩 Newsletter: terricole.com/newsletter
🔑 Ready to build healthier relationships? Join: terricole.com/tcm
Time Stamps
0:00 - The Power of Not Knowing
1:25 - Simone Stolzoff’s Origin Story & The Career Crossroads
4:37 - The Psychology of Uncertainty: Why We Crave Certainty
6:24 - How the Digital Age Decreased Our Tolerance
8:17 - Setting Certainty Anchors to Anchor Your Life
11:21 - The Physiology of Fear: Turning Threat into Opportunity
14:28 - Actionable Tools for Grounding & Moving Past the Freeze Response
17:12 - Exposure Therapy for Uncertainty: Low-Stakes Practice
22:35 - Navigating the Global Poly-Crisis Without Burning Out
26:20 - Growing Up with Therapists: Finding the Truth
28:15 - Boundaries, Proximity, and Protecting Your Core Family Unit
If You Enjoyed This, Watch These Videos
youtu.be/CyfZzQ_p_eg?si=FZMviLFv8pFdkAXf - Anxiety Relief: Methods to Calm Your Nervous System
youtu.be/vwgisgMmEYM?si=p1RQBLPy8gbaGOmi - 5 Ways to Manage Fear and Anxiety
youtu.be/DVmHTk00Pn8?si=bdOqn5HF8VYyexUx - Stop the Cycle of Worrying: 4 Tips to Worry Less
youtu.be/ZEbxtBMHLPs?si=Rot_TJsbYQY98dm1 - 8 Simple Mental Wellness Strategies for Everyday Life
🪔 Meditate with me: insighttimer.com/terricole
📸 Instagram: terricole.com/ig
About Terri Cole
Terri Cole is a licensed psychotherapist, global relationship and empowerment expert, and the author of Boundary Boss-The Essential Guide to Talk True, Be Seen and (Finally) Live Free, The Boundary Boss Workbook, and Too Much: A Guide to Breaking the Cycle of High-Functioning Codependency.
For over two decades, Terri has worked with a diverse group of clients that includes everyone from stay-at-home moms to celebrities and Fortune 500 CEOs.
She has a gift for making complex psychological concepts accessible and actionable so that clients and students achieve sustainable change. She inspires over a million people weekly through her blog, social media platform, signature courses, and her popular podcast, The Terri Cole Show. For more, see terricole.com
BetterHelp: betterhelp.com/terricole
I’m not currently taking any new one-on-one therapy or coaching clients, but highly recommend using BetterHelp to find a therapist that fits your needs. As a team, we have fully vetted BetterHelp's resources.
terricole.com/gethelp -- If you are in a crisis or any other person may be in danger, the resources on this page can provide you with immediate help.
Please note: If you choose to sign up for BetterHelp or Insight Timer or buy through my Amazon links, I will receive a commission. Please know that I only recommend services and products that I know & trust.
#uncertainty #mentalhealthtips #overthinking #mindsetshift #PersonalGrowth
Have you ever found yourself paralyzed by a major life decision, desperately wishing you just had the right answer?
In this episode of the show, I sit down with author and journalist Simone Stolzoff to dive into a topic we all struggle with: our deep aversion to the unknown. Simone shares the inspiration behind his latest book, How to Not Know: The Value of Uncertainty in a World That Demands Answers, and breaks down how our hyper-connected world has ruined our ability to sit with ambiguity.
If you're tired of overthinking, catastrophizing, or trying to control the future, this episode is exactly what you need to expand your window of tolerance and reclaim your peace.
By the end of this conversation, you’ll discover:
🔸The true connection between your career, identity, and the need for certainty.
🔸Why your brain is biologically wired to treat the unknown as a threat—and how to switch out of "survival mode."
🔸Simple, actionable ways to practice uncertainty tolerance in low-stakes situations to build your resilience.
🔸The mental shift you need to choose curiosity over fear and turn ambiguity into your greatest asset.
Find Simone at:
simonestolzoff.com
instagram.com/thepizza_bagel
📚 Too Much Book: hfcbook.com
📩 Newsletter: terricole.com/newsletter
🔑 Ready to build healthier relationships? Join: terricole.com/tcm
Time Stamps
0:00 - The Power of Not Knowing
1:25 - Simone Stolzoff’s Origin Story & The Career Crossroads
4:37 - The Psychology of Uncertainty: Why We Crave Certainty
6:24 - How the Digital Age Decreased Our Tolerance
8:17 - Setting Certainty Anchors to Anchor Your Life
11:21 - The Physiology of Fear: Turning Threat into Opportunity
14:28 - Actionable Tools for Grounding & Moving Past the Freeze Response
17:12 - Exposure Therapy for Uncertainty: Low-Stakes Practice
22:35 - Navigating the Global Poly-Crisis Without Burning Out
26:20 - Growing Up with Therapists: Finding the Truth
28:15 - Boundaries, Proximity, and Protecting Your Core Family Unit
If You Enjoyed This, Watch These Videos
youtu.be/CyfZzQ_p_eg?si=FZMviLFv8pFdkAXf - Anxiety Relief: Methods to Calm Your Nervous System
youtu.be/vwgisgMmEYM?si=p1RQBLPy8gbaGOmi - 5 Ways to Manage Fear and Anxiety
youtu.be/DVmHTk00Pn8?si=bdOqn5HF8VYyexUx - Stop the Cycle of Worrying: 4 Tips to Worry Less
youtu.be/ZEbxtBMHLPs?si=Rot_TJsbYQY98dm1 - 8 Simple Mental Wellness Strategies for Everyday Life
🪔 Meditate with me: insighttimer.com/terricole
📸 Instagram: terricole.com/ig
About Terri Cole
Terri Cole is a licensed psychotherapist, global relationship and empowerment expert, and the author of Boundary Boss-The Essential Guide to Talk True, Be Seen and (Finally) Live Free, The Boundary Boss Workbook, and Too Much: A Guide to Breaking the Cycle of High-Functioning Codependency.
For over two decades, Terri has worked with a diverse group of clients that includes everyone from stay-at-home moms to celebrities and Fortune 500 CEOs.
She has a gift for making complex psychological concepts accessible and actionable so that clients and students achieve sustainable change. She inspires over a million people weekly through her blog, social media platform, signature courses, and her popular podcast, The Terri Cole Show. For more, see terricole.com
BetterHelp: betterhelp.com/terricole
I’m not currently taking any new one-on-one therapy or coaching clients, but highly recommend using BetterHelp to find a therapist that fits your needs. As a team, we have fully vetted BetterHelp's resources.
terricole.com/gethelp -- If you are in a crisis or any other person may be in danger, the resources on this page can provide you with immediate help.
Please note: If you choose to sign up for BetterHelp or Insight Timer or buy through my Amazon links, I will receive a commission. Please know that I only recommend services and products that I know & trust.
#uncertainty #mentalhealthtips #overthinking #mindsetshift #PersonalGrowth
