The Art of Decision Making in Uncertainty
Stepping Into the Unknown: My Journey Through Uncertainty and Bold Decisions
Decision making in uncertainty is something elite performers can’t avoid. It’s embedded into the path towards success. But just because we’re good at our craft doesn’t mean we’re comfortable with NOT knowing what’s next. Trust me, I’ve lived it. Three times in particular, I found myself staring into the future trying to anticipate the outcome, when the obvious direction seemed like the most challenging—but I couldn’t ignore the quiet voice inside saying, “Go that way.”
🇯🇲 1. Betting on Myself: Representing Jamaica
The biggest decision I’ve ever made was switching my allegiance from Great Britain to compete for Jamaica. I hadn’t represented GB before, but Jamaica had no infrastructure, no pathway, and no public funding for diving. Essentially, I chose the road that didn’t even exist yet, I had to build it along the way. But I wasn’t looking for certainty—I was looking for opportunity. And I was hungry enough to chase it, wherever it led.
Was it risky? Absolutely. Was it worth it? Without question.
I had to:
Build my career off pure passion, a supportive circle, and a little help from Levi Roots (yes, the Levi Roots).
Stay tethered to the British system where possible—borrowing coaches, learning the ropes, making it work however I could.
Blaze a trail for Jamaican diving, not just for myself, but hopefully for everyone coming after.
🌧 2. Cracking Under Pressure: Anxiety & the Move to Edinburgh
Late 2018, I hit a wall. I turned up to preseason training with no appetite, no energy, and no excitement. Classic signs of anxiety, though I didn’t recognise them at the time. I just knew something was off. I didn’t want to train. I didn’t want to leave the house. It wasn’t burnout—it was a cry for change.
Thankfully, I had the right people around me who saw what I couldn’t yet admit. After a few long chats, the realisation hit me: I needed to move.
Cue the next big decision—I relocated to Edinburgh.
I had next to no money. I sofa-surfed, crashed with friends, and had to make every penny count. But the shift in energy, environment, and support systems reignited something in me. My diving got better. My mindset got stronger. I came back to life.
I had to:
Trust that discomfort was a sign—not of failure, but of redirection.
Accept help and embrace instability for the sake of growth.
Rebuild my confidence by changing my surroundings, not just my schedule.
⏳ 3. The Final Dive: Retiring From Elite Sport
Retirement is the mother of all uncertainty for athletes. For years your identity is your sport. For two decades, my identity was rooted in diving. My schedule was dictated by training blocks. My goals were performance-based. Then suddenly, you’ve got to start again from scratch, without the guidance you’re used to.
Even when I knew it was time to retire, I still wrestled with the decision. Who was I outside of the pool? What came next?
I told my coach 10 months before I made it official. I needed time to let it settle, to ask questions, to imagine life beyond sport. I didn’t rush it, but I didn’t avoid it either.
To any athlete reading this: don’t wait until the decision is made for you. Prepare. Reflect. Build something beyond your sport while you’re still in it.
I had to:
Lean on my inner circle for emotional clarity and guidance.
Give myself space to grieve the end while planning for a new beginning.
Trust that the discipline and resilience built in sport would transfer into whatever came next.
🎯 Conclusion: When the Outcome is Unclear, Back Your Inner Compass
Every major leap I’ve taken has come with uncertainty. But what made the difference? Self-belief. Not blind optimism, but a grounded trust that if I took the step, I’d find a way to land on my feet—or on my hands, I suppose a diver should say.
If you’re staring down a decision right now, ask yourself: “Am I moving toward something I believe in—even if I can’t see the whole path?” That question has never failed me.
Let’s open the conversation—comment below with a bold decision you’ve made, share this with someone standing at a crossroads, and tell me what topic you’d love me to cover next. Let’s grow through the uncertainty—together.