Fear Setting-How To Do It

Fear setting is the most powerful way to break your limiting beliefs.

We all have that ‘thing’ we’ve put off for years.

Whether it’s leaving a job, starting a business, or moving country, fear setting is the answer to making it happen.

It’s a simple process developed by ancient philosophers including Seneca, Epictetus, and Marcus Aurelius.

They called it “Premeditatio Malorum,” or the premeditation of evils.

Here’s how to do it:

Define the action you want to take, e.g. leaving your job.

Create Page 1: Fears Under a Microscope

• Make three columns: Define, Prevent, Repair

• List all fears and worst-case scenarios

• Write ways to prevent each scenario

• Note how to repair damage if scenarios occur

• Rate impact of each scenario (1-10 scale)

Create Page 2: Benefits of Taking Action

• List potential positive outcomes

• Include benefits of partial success or attempts

• Rate potential impact of each benefit (1-10 scale)

Create Page 3: Consequences of Inaction

• Make three columns: 6 months, 1 year, 3 years

• List costs of maintaining status quo for each timeframe

• Consider emotional, financial, and physical consequences

As Steven Pressfield once said, “Most of us have two lives. The life we live, and the unlived life within us. Between the two stands Resistance.”

Fear setting helps us overcome the resistance.