Name the unknowns

When you feel lost and overwhelmed, name the unknowns. Don’t leave them to be shapeless creatures lurking in the dark. Describe them. State what exactly you do not know about them, and they will slowly begin to take shape.

Will that give you certainty?

No. (Alas. I, too, am a creature who craves certainty and knowing.)

But naming the unknowns will help illuminate which specific things are actually unknown, and of these, which are actionable or answerable, vs. which things are beyond your control (so you can stop worrying about them).

I’ve been reminded recently of how useful it can be to name the unknowns. Of how useful it can be to inventory what you know (e.g., I know I like writing) and what you don’t (e.g., I don’t know whether I would like writing if it was my job). While I often like to use the Known-Unknowns exercise, it can be as simple as writing a list of the things—and then moving things from one column to the other.

1. For example, when you think about this thing that feels unknown and uncertain, what are the things you wish you knew?
2. Okay, now that you know what questions you have or what information you like, which of these can be addressed with some research, by talking to people, by looking at the data, or by making a decision?
3. Next to each of those, list how you’ll work towards an answer.
4. Of the items that are left on your list, which of these are simply unknowable or cannot be answered with any useful degree of certainty (or cannot be answered now)? Cross those out. (Or move them into some bucket for when you’re feeling philosophical.)
5. If there are any unknowns still left on your list, which of these are outside of your control? Cross those out. (Or, if helpful, you can keep them as a reminder of things not worth worrying about.)
6. If there are items that are partly within your control, then separate them out by creating a question you can answer and noting how you’ll answer it, and leaving behind the question that is unknowable or beyond your control (and do what you did for the rest of those).

When something feels too big, too much, or too overwhelming, it’s easy to lose sight of the things we do know already, and of what we can do. Naming your unknowns won’t tell you what to do next or give you certainty, but it will help you sort out which things are actually unknown, which things to let go of, and help you see what’s actionable enough to figure out where to start.

What do you find helpful when you feel overwhelmed and don’t know where to start? Or, did you try out the process above? Let me know how it went!