Everything Is Figure-Out-Able: How This Simple Phrase Helped Me Let Go of Fear and Move Forward
- Laura Lang
- Aug 7
- 3 min read
Last week, I was creating a set of affirmations for a group of young women preparing for a new school year. I wanted to give them something encouraging—something to help them anchor themselves when the pressure of expectations and change started to feel overwhelming.
And while I was helping them, I realized… I could use some new affirmations myself.
One phrase landed on my desk and wouldn’t leave:
“Everything is figure-out-able.”
It wasn’t a new saying. I’d heard it before—maybe you have too. But this time, it felt different. It felt urgent. I left it right there on my desk all week, where I’d see it every day. I didn’t know why it felt so important until a conversation reminded me.
The Link Between Decision-Making and Success
Years ago, when preparing a presentation for another group of young women, I came across a research study. I wish I could remember who wrote it—it was probably over 30 years ago now—but the key takeaway stuck with me:
People who make faster decisions tend to be more successful.
Not because they’re always making perfect decisions—but because they keep moving. They stay in motion. They act, learn, adjust, and keep going. The forward momentum leads to progress, even if not every step is in the “right” direction.
That concept came rushing back as I heard a woman berating herself for making a decision that wasn’t perfect. It wasn’t a bad decision, it just didn’t turn out exactly as she had pictured in her mind. Because of this she was now afraid to make future decisions. She was stuck in a cycle of second-guessing everything—terrified of choosing the wrong path, wasting time or money, or being judged for not getting it right.
I understood that fear deeply. I’ve lived it too.
Why Does It Feel So Dangerous to Make a “Wrong” Decision?
I started asking myself:
Why does making the wrong decision feel so dangerous?
Why do we freeze up instead of just… trying something and adjusting later?
Here’s what I think.
We’re afraid of being judged.
We’re afraid of wasting resources we can’t get back.
We’re afraid that one “bad” decision might be the one that ruins everything.
But most of all, we’re afraid that failure means something about us—that it proves we weren’t good enough, smart enough, or capable enough after all.
The Truth About Failure
The truth is: you will make mistakes. I will, too. That’s not failure—it’s learning.
One of the most powerful pieces of business advice I’ve ever heard came from a coach who told her client:
“Get moving and fail fast.”
That phrase shook something loose in me. It reminded me that trying and failing isn’t the problem. Staying stuck is the problem.
When you believe that everything is figure-out-able, you give yourself permission to start. You give yourself the grace to adapt. You stop expecting perfection and start expecting progress.
Failure becomes part of the process, not the end of the story.
The Freedom of "Figure-Out-Able"
When I say “everything is figure-out-able,” I’m not talking about toxic positivity or pretending everything is easy.
I’m saying: you are capable of learning, adjusting, and growing—even when things don’t go as planned.
Especially when things don’t go as planned.
You can launch a new product and pivot when the results aren't what you hoped for.
You can take a step in a new direction and change course if it’s not the right fit.
You can try something bold and learn from the outcome—good or bad.
None of that is failure. It’s data. It’s feedback. It’s forward motion.
When you accept that, you stop making every decision feel like a life-or-death moment. You reclaim your right to experiment, to evolve, and to trust yourself.
What Would You Do If You Believed Everything Is Figure-Out-Able?
If you're feeling stuck right now, ask yourself this:
What would I try if I knew I could figure it out along the way?
Would you finally launch that offer?
Make that phone call?
Say yes to the opportunity you've been circling for months?
What would shift if you didn’t need a perfect plan—just a willingness to take the first step?
Final Thoughts
"Everything is figure-out-able" has become more than just an affirmation on my desk—it's a mindset I’m working to live by.
When I remember that, I move faster. I forgive myself more easily. I learn and adjust without shame.
So today, if you’re caught in the loop of overthinking, perfectionism, or fear of failure…Pause.
Breathe.
And remind yourself: you can figure it out.
You always have.
You always will.
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