Did you forget where you’re going?

When you let your fear of failure take control, it’s easy to forget where you’re going. Want to get refocused? You can. Here’s how.

Hmmm…

There it is again — that nagging fear of failure. It comes at midnight, 3 a.m., noon… let’s face it: it’s there all the time. And it can make you forget what is most important to you, so you lose your bearings. Underlying almost every move, thought or action is the daunting sense that you might be wrong.

What can you do about it? That’s the real question. The fear is going to be there. That’s because your amygdala (your reptile brain) has an active fear center which is keeping you alive. That part of your brain is there to keep you from being eaten by the leopard.

Forget trying to get rid of it. The challenge is how to live with your reptile brain while moving ahead with confidence.

Measure the threat.

All threats are not equal. There are definitely threats to your well-being, all around you, every day. The question is: which ones actually represent a clear and present danger? Is there a way to measure threats, and how to respond to them? Yes.

Get out your tape measure. In fact, in some situations, it makes more sense to go through a process of “fear setting” than “goal setting.” Why? Because if you take at least some of the emotion out of your fears by measuring threats, you can make better decisions, and move ahead with confidence even when you’re in the midst of real difficulties.

Here’s how.

Please listen to this brief talk (about 14 minutes) by Tim Ferris — and then come right back for today’s takeaway.

In 10-15 minutes, you could go through an exercise similar to Ferris’s, define the fear, then consider the cost of action vs. inaction, and move ahead from there with a clearer sense of direction and control.

The takeaway:

Fear is real, but it doesn’t have to derail you. Do some fear setting, and get back into the action.

Read more.

I can help you face your fears productively, so you can get back to what matters most.