The Mental Toughness Handbook: A Step-By-Step Guide to Facing Life's Challenges, Managing Negative Emotions, and Overcoming Adversity with Courage and Poise

by Damon Zahariades

#2 - Ask yourself “What’s the worst that can happen?” Even when life is good and everything is going right, self-doubt can creep in. You’ll begin to second-guess your decisions and hesitate before acting in fear that you’ll make mistakes. Self-doubt is a natural and healthy part of our psychology. It helps us to make good decisions, encourages us to do our best work, and protects us from negative outcomes. The problem is, it can also paralyze us. It can consume our thoughts, promoting fear and indecision, thereby becoming a liability. This exercise counters this effect. When you find yourself in doubt, vacillating rather than taking action, ask yourself “What’s the worst that can happen if I do XYZ?” The answer will reveal that mistakes are rarely disastrous.