Seven Questions That Will Eliminate Your Fears

We all face fears, which is perfectly normal, unless they control our lives. Even if you do have your fears under control, you might be interested in taking things to the next level – perhaps a career change, a new relationship, or moving to another country.

If your brain keeps firing off the worst case scenario, and then leaving you retreating to your comfort zone, your fears might be holding you back. My philosophy is that all our thoughts can be altered, understood, or accepted if we just ask ourselves the right questions (life altering questions).

1. Define your nightmare, the absolute worst that could happen if you did what you are considering.

2. What steps could you take to repair the damage or get things back on the upswing, even if temporarily?

3. What are the outcomes or benefits, both temporary and permanent, of more probable scenarios?

4. If … [your worst fear happened now, what could you do to get things under] … control?

5. What are you putting off out of fear?

6. What is it costing you-financially, emotionally, and physically-to postpone action?

7. What are you waiting for?

- The 4-Hour Work Week by Timothy Ferris

Instead of simply writing the first thing that pops into your head, you could get a deeper understanding by spending time on each question. Open up a fresh Word (or OneNote) document, head it with one question, and brain storm for 8 minutes. In under one hour, you might surprise yourself with how ridiculous your fear was and have the courage to go through with it.

You can get The 4-Hour Work Week at amazon.com, or try your luck at John Chow’s signed book giveaway.[edit: contest over]

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Posted by in Personal Development | July 20, 2007 | Digg | Del.icio.us | Stumble | Print | 14 comments

  • Anna

    here’s the solution to all fears: take a couple shots of VODKA!!!!!!!!!! yea baby

  • Seemingly Nice Girl

    What if some fears are better not overcome? Isn’t that the tough question – whether a fear is worth overcoming or not?

  • http://www.alexshalman.com Alex Shalman

    I would say any fear that is holding you back from living a happy and fulfilled life is worth overcoming.

  • http://www.MotivationalSpeakerSource.com Dave

    I haven’t tried it yet, but I believe that fears are just hindrance and can easily be overcome by a strong and solid decision making.

  • http://www.siadlak.eu/2007/best-personal-development-articles-4/ Scripta manent » Personal Development Links: week 29

    [...] Seven Questions That Will Eliminate Your Fears by Alex Shalman [...]

  • ava

    We fear when we have a lot to lose. Otherwise, our fears are irrational. If the benefit of the better outcome of a potentially life-changing(i.e. a change in careers, a divorce…etc) decision gives one enough incentive to actually go through with it, then, if that outcome is achieved, it is the most rewarding. We cherish that which is most difficult to attain, and if we overcome a fear in the process, then more than likely, we will remember this in the future.

  • http://www.alexshalman.com Alex Shalman

    Dave, I think that in some cases fears can be a positive thing. Like when you need the adrenaline rush to escape danger. It’s the irrational fears that ava mentions that are more of a problem. So our job (by asking ourselves the right questions) is to bring to understanding the fact that the worst case scenarios of our fears are really not that bad. A good way to do that is to determine and focus on the positive outcomes.

  • http://www.pathwaytohappiness.com Gary

    Your question approach to dissolving fears assumes that logic can over rule emotions. My experience is that when people are in an emotional state their logic is driven by their emotions.

    I’m doubtful of using logic to overcome a fear of flying. There is a life or death instinct in that case that is more primal than the logical mind is able to address.

    That’s my brief logical analysis.

  • http://www.best-of-time-management.com/personal-development.htm Pamela

    This is a wonderful guide. Facing our fear is hard to do. It’s a problem we can’t solve if we are not brave enough to face it. But it is worth trying if it means eliminating it.

  • http://www.alexshalman.com Alex Shalman

    Gary – thanks for your input =)

    Pamela – it’s always worth trying – thanks!

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  • http://www.google.com Ivan

    Hi, my name is disman-kl, i like your site and i ll be back ;)

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