Fear-Setting Exercise
Recently, I stumbled upon an article by Tim Ferriss where he introduced a powerful concept: the fear-setting exercise.
Conquering Fear = Defining Fear
Inspired by Stoic philosophy, Tim Ferriss emphasizes that many of our fears are exaggerated and often lead to inaction. To conquer fear, we must first define it. The fear-setting exercise involves four steps:
- Write down the decision or change you are considering.
- Define: List the worst possible outcomes associated with that decision.
- Prevent: Identify actions you could take to mitigate those outcomes.
- Repair: List steps or actions you could take to recover if the worst-case scenario happens.
Don’t only evaluate the potential downside of action. It is equally important to measure the atrocious cost of inaction. If you don’t pursue those things that excite you, where will you be in one year, five years, and ten years?
Just as we think through and compare the benefits of making a decision, we should also weigh the cost of action and inaction.
Writing down our fears and obstacles can help us step back from the emotions and fears in our minds, ultimately helping us conquer them.
Besides, the worst-case scenario is rarely as bad as it seems.
My biggest fear is regretting not doing something I really wanted to do. Doing this exercise gives me more clarity on the things I would like to commit to.