Stop Fearing What Could Go Wrong and Get Excited About What Could Go Right 😱

Published: Sun, 02/16/20

We are more often frightened than hurt, and we suffer more from imagination than from reality.
—Seneca

For a long time in my life, I felt the best way to approach any challenging situation would be to look for the worst that could ever happen. With more experience, I realized that in itself wasn’t a bad thing. What was skewed was my inability to use that information in context, My immature mind was using it as an excuse to give up not as a strategy for growth.

Don't Let Your Fear of What Could Happen, Make Nothing Happen

Over the years, I’ve learned a lot about that human instinct to fear the worst. Psychologists call it the Negativity Bias. Our mind will give greater importance to our survival and happiness, and therefore whatever disrupts this is given more attention. It’s an evolutionary system that has helped humans survive throughout history.

Fear and anxiety are old enemies that feed each other. They get stronger with the attention we give them. This is because fear is a story we tell ourselves over and over again, and it’s kept alive through repeated thinking. The mind that conjures negative thoughts also creates empowering thoughts. Thoughts aren’t the enemy; it’s the meaning we give them that can lead us into dark places. There have been many times I began a writing project, and I instinctively looked at the worst-case scenario first and then on what I could do to make the project the best it can be. I may have started off with fear, but once I’ve called out my anxieties, I can move on to finding ways to improve my performance or my situation.

In High School, I was getting into the personal development arena, and it was changing a lot of my usual thinking. I was becoming annoyed with my worst-case scenario thinking because I felt it didn't fit into my new found thinking. Then I stumbled upon the writings of the Stoics. I was attracted to them because they reminded me of myself and my Jamaican/African ancestors and how they looked at life.

The Greeks had a tradition called The premeditation of Evils, where you consider the worst that can go wrong in any situation. You feel it in your gut and bones. You Understand what it will look like or taste like. You’re readying yourself for the worst and then you make plans to counter them.

Seneca said it best.
“the man who has anticipated the coming of troubles takes away their power when they arrive.”

So you prepare the best you are able. Ask yourself, what can I do now to mitigate against the worst happening? And If it does happen, how can I bounce back? List it all and consider the best options.

For me, this step comes naturally. As I said earlier, Jamaicans are natural stoics and may seem negative sometimes, but they simply weigh up what could go wrong. Once I’ve considered the worst-case options, I let it go. I’ve made plans to overcome them if they happen, my focus is on what I can now do, to positively improve my situation or performance. Sometimes I still feel like I’m letting the team down with my worst-case scenario thinking, but I remind myself its a part of my process when it comes to handling the challenges of writing and of life in general. My conclusion, therefore - I always wanted to say that 😎, Instead of spending my time fearing what could be, consider what could go wrong and within your power take action to prevent it. After that, focus on doing the damn thing as well as you can and let the chips fall were they may.

Peace, love and power

Anton Mark

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