By Carelle Herrera
Investing isn’t just a numbers game. It’s a decision game. And in moments of uncertainty, the most powerful asset isn’t data—it’s clarity.
The Hidden Cost of Hesitation
In decision-making, delay has a price. I’ve seen smart women investors miss life-changing opportunities—not because they lacked knowledge, but because they didn’t trust their read of the situation. Hesitation isn’t always about logic. It’s often fear dressed up as caution. And when we hesitate, we often outsource our power—waiting for someone else to validate our instinct.
The cost? Time. Momentum. Sometimes the deal itself.
Confidence doesn’t guarantee a perfect outcome. But it gives you clarity in motion—so you can evaluate, pivot, and recover quickly if needed. You don’t need to be reckless. But you do need to train your nervous system to stay centered long enough to hear your inner “yes” or “no”—and then act on it.
Your Brain in Uncertainty
Neuroscience shows us that uncertainty activates your brain’s threat response system. When something feels unfamiliar, your amygdala lights up. That’s the part of your brain wired to detect danger. But here’s the catch: it can’t tell the difference between real threat and perceived risk. A career pivot can feel just as threatening as a lion in the wild. That’s why your palms sweat before a pitch. Why your stomach drops before clicking “send” on an offer. It’s not weakness—it’s biology.
But you can retrain it using proven neuroscience techniques. When you regularly practice confidence-building habits—like breath resets, mental rehearsal, or NLP reframing techniques—you shift your nervous system from panic to presence. And that’s when better decisions happen. You stop reacting and start responding. You move not from fear, but from focus.
A Moment of Clarity
When the pandemic hit and lockdown was announced, I sat with my management team. We had employees dependent on us and families to consider.
We talked about our options: continue operating until funds ran out, or close now and pivot smaller. It was too early to give up, but continuing without income meant we’d have nothing left by decision time. Our kids were young, so I was conflicted. But our decision would affect more people.
We teach agility to companies like Accenture and Mercedes Benz—we had tools to apply. With so much uncertainty, people needed hope even more. But how would we reach them? Our business was purely face-to-face events. We didn’t know online training, but we were confident in our ability to learn.
My husband and I came from TV, my team were theater actors—we knew shows. We talked to digital experts and learned fast. We translated our programs into online experiences, tested them, and offered free services to clients dealing with overwhelming change. That’s when BrainStrong happened.
An opportunity arose when funds were dwindling: training teachers to teach online. The nonprofit had little funding but wanted to help public school teachers in poor communities. I said yes—not for money, but because people needed us.
We trained 100,000 public school teachers who learned under trees and on streets where signal was strongest. Students had no laptops or wifi, so we created classrooms using just data and phones. Even Barack Obama commended these efforts. We inspired hope. When restrictions eased, we were ready. Insurance companies, then major brands followed. We had the resources, stories, and proof they needed.
From Panic to Presence
That pandemic moment taught me something crucial about confidence under pressure.
When everything feels uncertain, your first instinct might be to gather more information, analyze every angle, or wait for the “right” moment. But confidence isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about staying grounded enough to access your inner knowing.
The difference between leaders who thrive in uncertainty and those who freeze isn’t intelligence or experience. It’s their ability to regulate their nervous system when stakes are high.
They’ve trained themselves to move from reactive panic to responsive presence.
The One-Minute Grounding Reset
When your mind starts spinning, don’t try to “power through.” Instead, reset.
Here’s a one-minute confidence practice rooted in neuroscience that I use with clients before big decisions:
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Breathe out slowly (longer than your inhale) to activate your parasympathetic nervous system—your body’s calming system.
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Put a hand on your chest and ask: “What do I know is true right now?”
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Anchor your intention with a phrase: “I choose clarity” or “I trust myself to respond.”
Now act. Not rushed, not panicked. Just one clear, honest move.
Do this enough times, and your brain will associate uncertainty not with panic—but with presence.
Conclusion
Confidence won’t eliminate uncertainty. But it will help you lead through it. It’s not about always being right, it’s about being rooted.
In the end, this inner asset—the most valuable thing you bring to any decision—isn’t your résumé, your analysis, or your network. It’s the quiet, trained confidence to move when it matters most.
For more confidence-building strategies and insights, follow us on Instagram @brainstronginitiative
