The 1% Practice

Small shifts. Lasting change.

April 12, 2026

Hey Reader,

When was the last time you were in a liminal space? This is an in-between territory where the old rules governing our choices no longer apply. It's a space of pure uncertainty and potential magic.

I've been there for the last three weeks. I signed a job offer for a remote company that I admire and am passionate about working for. But the process got paused because of unexpected paperwork from the Employer of Record they use to hire internationally.

I've focused on my personal projects in the meantime. But I cannot deny that at moments fear creeps in. I never imagined being a legal immigrant would add such a thick layer of complexity to the hiring process.

This is what inspired today's essay.

🧙‍♂️ How to walk out of the uncertainty cave alive

Two mages and a warrior were on a journey when suddenly the ground gave way, and they tumbled into a cave. They were welcomed by a beautiful view. Crystals growing and glowing everywhere. But these crystals nullified magic.

As experienced and powerful as the two mages were, their skills meant nothing inside this large dark cave. The group eventually had to camp inside. One mage, Frieren, who had lived for hundreds of years, slept soundly. The other mage, Fern, couldn't sleep—she was terrified. For the first time in her 18 years of life she felt defenseless. She had control over nothing in this enormous cave of uncertainty.

Later on, the warrior fretted over how the oldest mage could sleep so peacefully. To which Frieren replied: "Because I've entrusted you with my life."

Two choices when dealing with uncertainty

When you face deep uncertainty, your brain goes into survival mode. It cannot predict what will happen next. Then you have two choices:

Let it steal your sleep, paralyze you, and pull you under.
Trust. Trust in something. Your team, your skills, the universe, your gut, or even your god.

Here's how we can picture this kind of waiting:

The unexpected event was tumbling into the cave, which drastically reduced the certainty of what would happen next. Then came the liminal space: navigating the cave in search of a way out.

During this liminal space, they chose to trust. In doing so, they shifted from survival mode to possibility mode.

Then came the big reveal: the moment they walked out of the cave after facing danger.

In moments of uncertainty, trust nurtures the belief that you can handle whatever comes next. Because your beliefs shape your reality. As Nir Eyal puts it:

Beliefs are tools, not truths.

Maybe right now, you've done everything you could and there's nothing left but the wait. That's ok. Keep trusting. Keep walking.

Going through the uncertainty cave is not about being fearless. It's about walking despite the fear. Trusting that somehow, you'll make it out.

🎯 The 1% Practice of the Week

On every issue, I give you one sentence to foster change in your life. Last practice was about acceptance, today it's about trust:

What is that I'm afraid of, and where can I put my trust to make progress?

You can add it in Minder for iPhone or any reminder app on your phone.

If you have Minder installed, tap here to quickly add it:

Add to Minder

Thanks for reading!

—Jorge Calle

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The 1% Practice

Trust is a strange kind of courage

The 1% Practice

🧙‍♂️ How to walk out of the uncertainty cave alive

Two choices when dealing with uncertainty

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