Before Breakfast How to be OK with uncertainty, with Simone Stolzoff
May 13, 2026
Simone Stolzoff, journalist and author of How Not to Know, explores building tolerance for uncertainty and navigating work and life with less perfectionism. She discusses why constant connectivity raises anxiety. She shares simple practices like anchors, separating controllables, trusting your future self, and choosing curiosity over fear.
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Why Uncertainty Feels Worse Today
- The world is measurably more uncertain now and our tolerance for that uncertainty has declined.
- Simone Stolzoff cites the Economic Policy Uncertainty Index and internet-driven expectations for instant answers as reasons this feels worse recently.
How Low Uncertainty Tolerance Harms Creativity And Society
- Low tolerance for uncertainty reduces creativity, collaboration, and societal resilience.
- Stolzoff links intolerance to safer choices, less cross-difference collaboration, and closing minds to new possibilities.
Stop Researching To Feel In Control
- Stop endless information-gathering once returns diminish and instead plan for the controllable contingencies.
- Simone uses her own job-offer agonizing story to show when researching becomes an attempt to control the uncontrollable.
