Thread by @SahilBloom

I came across the concept of “Fear-Setting” from Tim Ferriss in 2017.

I registered it as interesting, but didn't dive in until 2021, when I was going through my own big life changes that were scaring the hell out of me.

Here’s what it is (and how it can change your life):

The foundation of fear-setting is captured in a famous stoic quote:

“We suffer more in imagination than in reality.” — Seneca

Fear plays dangerous games with our minds.

It distorts our ability to think clearly and rationally about a decision.

When we feel fear, we:

• Overstate the negative consequences of our decisions or actions.

• Completely ignore the potential positive consequences and the costs of inaction.

Fear-setting forces you to do the opposite—it provides a structured way to get closer to your fears.

Here's a generalized model of how it works:

When faced with a big, intimidating decision, grab a notebook and pen and sit down in a quiet place with no technology or distractions.

Then follow these steps…

Step 1: Deconstruct the Fear

The first step is to get closer to your fears.

Define: What are the worst case scenarios?

Prevent: What actions could you take that would reduce the probability of them happening?

Repair: What actions would you take to repair the damage done?

Step 2: Deconstruct the Upside

The second step is to get closer to the benefits.

Determine the benefits of action.

Quantify the benefits of action: How big of an impact will these consequences have on your life, happiness, and fulfillment?

Step 3 (OPTIONAL): Deconstruct the Inaction

The optional third step is to get closer to the idea of inaction.

Determine the costs of inaction. If you do nothing, what will happen? What are the costs of taking no action? Write them out clearly.

After completing the steps, zoom out from the trees and look at the forest.

You'll have a clear, rational picture of the decision before you and an intimate understanding of your fears.

The quality of your next move will be dramatically improved.

Fear-Setting provides a thoughtful, structured approach to get closer to your fears and mitigate their distorting effect on reality.

The next time you're faced with a big decision, give this a shot!

Follow me @SahilBloom for more writing on growth and decision-making.

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