A Great Question to Ask

One of the best books I ever read was by Spencer Johnson called "Yes" or "No": The Guide to Better Decisions. You can get it used for a penny at Amazon. I only remember one thing about the book, but it was worth the price many times over. The book gave me this question, which has helped guide me in a number of decisions:

"What would I do
if I weren't afraid?"

Seth Godin talks about this background fear as being the "lizard brain" that is focused on self-preservation. Lana Manis just did a post on Imperfection and Uncertainty which I found interesting. Everyone faces uncertainty sometime.

Asking the above question, "What would I do if I weren't afraid?" reveals all the "what-ifs" that are holding me back. And they are usually things that are rooted in anxiety or are my attempt to try to be prepared for every eventuality. This will tie us up in knots, and make us miss the joys of today.

So sit down with a pen and paper and make a list of things you would do if you weren't afraid. Ask the question in terms of your wardrobe, in terms of your career choices, in terms of your art, in terms of the choices for the day. Or even for choosing the color of your house.

Share