Seeking Certainty: How to Stack the Odds in Your Favor

What Do You Think of When You Hear the Word “Certainty”?

Many of us seek certainty as a prerequisite for making decisions. 

As a former engineer, this makes sense to me.

• When you design a bridge, you need to be certain it won’t collapse.

• When you design a rocket, you need to be certain it won’t explode in orbit.

• When you design a skyscraper, you need to be certain it won’t tip over.

You get the point.

But it’s not just engineers who thrive on certainty; most human beings crave it.

We want certainty that we’re making the right decisions.

• Certainty that our children will be safe when we send them off to school.

• Certainty that medicines and vaccines are safe.

• Certainty that nuclear war won’t unfold.

• Certainty that our jobs are secure.

• Certainty that when we open up to a partner, they won’t reject or abandon us.

We all want certainty.

But here’s the hard truth: we can rarely, if ever, be certain.

Benjamin Franklin famously said, “In this world, nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.”

However, just because we can’t guarantee every outcome, we can still strive for clarity and stack the odds in our favor. Here’s how:

1. Establish Clarity

Get crystal clear on what your goal is. You can’t be certain you’ll reach a destination if you don’t know where you’re headed. Spend time defining your goal and understanding why it matters to you. The “why” is important because it will keep you focused when things get tough.

2. Find Someone Who Can Help

Look for someone who has already achieved what you’re aiming for, or a coach who has helped others do the same. If someone has guided hundreds of people toward the same goal, chances are they can help you too.

3. Put Yourself in the Right Environment

We’re like sponges, absorbing what’s around us. One of my favorite quotes is, “You are the sum of the five people you spend the most time with.” If you want to reach a health goal, surround yourself with people who prioritize their health. Create a home environment that supports your goals—stock your kitchen with proteins, fruits, and vegetables, and remove temptations.

I offer a health-related example because at Steller Coaching, we help people achieve their health and wellness goals. But these principles can apply to any area of life.

Gaining More Certainty

To increase the likelihood of success, start by getting clear on what you want, find someone who has already done it, and optimize your environment to make it easier to take action.

There are some things we’ll never be able to predict with certainty—like when the next pandemic will occur, what the weather will be on your vacation, or how someone will respond to your best intentions.

But in many areas of life, you can stack the odds in your favor by following these steps to gain more certainty about your desired outcomes.