Do you worry? What do you worry about? Because everyone does.
In my 18 years of coaching, I’ve helped at least 500+ people eliminate worry.
No. I didn’t help them live stress-free lives.
And no. I didn’t turn them into some zen monks who stopped caring, or became disattached.
What I helped them do was more practical - learn how to deal with worry so it no longer dictates the quality of their life or their decisions.
And today, I want to share with you my favorite, and I’d argue most effective, tool for that.
I learned it from Tim Ferriss.
On any given day, I worry about things:
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Whether I’ll ever really “make it” with my business.
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Whether my parents and sister will be okay, given war, age, financial pressures.
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Whether I’ll meet my life partner (or whether I should stop worrying about that).
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Whether my health will hold up.
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Whether I’ll make the impact I want to make.
I worry.
But those worries don’t stop me from taking action, from swinging big whenever I can.
They’re barely noticeable.
I can put them aside, the same way I turn off notifications on my phone, so they don’t interfere with doing meaningful work or being present for my meaningful life.
The thing about worry: it brings no value. Except as a signal.
A signal that you care.
A signal that there might be an action you can take.
But unchecked, worry makes decisions heavy.
It steals your sleep.
It keeps you small.
When I’m facing daily decisions, career risks, new projects, or even my biggest existential worries, I ask a simple set of questions.
The same ones I’ve taught my clients. I"m yet to see it not working, when used.
They come from Tim Ferriss’ fear-setting exercise.
DEFINE
What’s the worst that can realistically happen?
Be specific. Detail it fully.
Fear is a mile wide and an inch deep, until you name it.
PREVENT
How can I reduce the likelihood of that happening?
Focus only on what you can control.
What guardrails can you put in place to make what you worry about less likely to happen?
REPAIR
If it does happen, how would I recover?
List real ways, 1-3, or more, you’d get back on your feet👣
Is the worst case survivable?
If yes, why not build a safety net, and keep living fully?
You worry.
I worry.
We all worry.
Our brain is excellent at keeping us safe that way.
Sometimes too excellent, protecting you right out of your extraordinary life.
Over to you dear reader,
What are your biggest worries right now?
And are they in the way of your biggest life?
