One of the most challenging parts of diplomatic life is being asked to make life-shaping decisions long before you have the full picture. From bidding on posts to preparing for arrival, you’re often required to commit while so much still feels uncertain.

In this episode, we continue our conversation on uncertainty and focus on decision-making within the diplomatic posting cycle- even when information is incomplete.

In this episode, we explore:

• How to approach bidding on posts without overthinking every possible outcome
• Why getting clear on your needs, desires, and non-negotiables is more important than trying to predict the future
• What to consider when thinking about your day-to-day life, not just the headline of a posting
• What shifts once you’ve been offered a post and how to move into deeper research with clarity and curiosity
• Why you are always allowed to change your mind and how reclaiming that choice can help you feel empowered and in control

This episode is about making grounded, values-led decisions throughout the posting process, trusting yourself through uncertainty, and remembering that agency and flexibility can coexist in diplomatic life.

ASK your questions on our anonymous link: https://tally.so/r/nP7zO5

🎧 Connect with your hosts:

Anna – Instagram: @notjustaspouse | notjustaspouse.com | anna@notjustaspouse.com

Emma – Instagram: @thezestielife | emma@zestie.org | zestie.carrd.co

Uncertainty is one of the hardest, and most invisible, parts of this lifestyle. Not knowing if a move will happen, when it will happen, or having plans change at the last minute can leave you feeling stuck in limbo, unable to fully move forward or settle where you are.

In this episode, we talk honestly about what it means to live in the “waiting room” of diplomatic life. That in-between space where decisions aren’t yours to make, timelines keep shifting, and your nervous system is constantly on alert.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why uncertainty feels so destabilising and emotionally draining
• What happens when plans change at the last minute and how to emotionally recover
• Practical tools to help you cope with uncertainty, ground yourself in the present, and reclaim a sense of agency, even when nothing feels certain

ASK your questions on our anonymous link: https://tally.so/r/nP7zO5

🎧 Connect with your hosts:

Anna – Instagram: @notjustaspouse | notjustaspouse.com | anna@notjustaspouse.com

Emma – Instagram: @thezestielife | emma@zestie.org | zestie.carrd.co

As the year closes, it’s tempting to jump straight into what’s next. But before we move forward, there’s so much value in pausing to honour the growth, challenges, and the victories that shaped your year.

In this episode, we reflect on three powerful questions:

✨ What are you proud of this year?

✨ What are you grateful for this year?

✨ What did this year teach you?

We share our own reflections, honestly, unplanned and straight from the heart.

We would love for you to complete your own end-of-year check-in. This is your moment to acknowledge how far you’ve come and to step into a new year with a big smile!

We’d love to hear your reflections. Truly—we’re your biggest cheerleaders. Share them with us using the contact information below.

ASK your questions on our anonymous link: https://tally.so/r/nP7zO5

🎧 Connect with your hosts:

Anna – Instagram: @notjustaspouse | notjustaspouse.com | anna@notjustaspouse.com

Emma – Instagram: @thezestielife | emma@zestie.org | zestie.carrd.co