Today let’s talk about stress. Last night, I had trouble sleeping, which is rare for me. I can probably count on two hands the number of times that’s happened in my entire life. But my mind started racing—thinking about a situation, a person, my business—and it wasn’t restful. After a while, I just decided to get up. It was early, but I got up, read a bit, and shifted my focus. With a cup of coffee and redirecting my thoughts that stress and anxiety started to fade.
One of the things I want to share with you today is a technique for managing stress by identifying worst-case scenarios. This is a tool I learned from Tim Ferriss, called “fear setting,” and it’s super helpful. If there’s something you’re stressed about, start by writing it down. Then, map out what the worst-case scenario could be. When you’ve identified that, come up with a plan for what you’d do if it actually happened. This gives you some control and clarity, which often reduces anxiety.
More often than not, the worst-case scenario doesn’t even happen, but our brains love to run wild with “what ifs.” And here’s the thing—your brain can’t tell the difference between what’s real and what you’re imagining, so your body starts feeling all that stress. Writing down the worst-case scenario and a plan for it gives you something solid to work with instead of letting your imagination run wild. The next step is to write out how you can prevent that worst-case scenario. This is where things get productive.
If you’re worried or stressed, you can shift your focus to actions you can take now to change the outcome. It’s empowering because instead of feeling stuck, you’re actively working on solutions. This exercise pulls you out of the fog of rumination and helps you get specific, which is key to taking real action. Another thing I like to do—especially if I’m lying in bed and starting to feel stressed—is to check in with the present moment. Just pause and recognize that right now, everything’s okay. I’m okay. The people I love are okay. The situation is okay. When you can get into that mindset, it helps a lot to calm your mind and focus on the here and now.
So those are a couple of ideas: fear setting and staying present. Give them a try next time stress starts creeping in. Oh, and it’s a beautiful morning out here, walking my friend’s dog—she’s such a beauty. Getting a pet can help with stress too, by the way! Alright men, I’m Todd with Empowered Men Coaching. Have a great day. Ciao!
Author: Todd Gorishek
Todd is a certified Men’s Life Coach, an entrepreneur, a licensed healthcare professional, a husband, a father, and a world traveler. His mission is to co-create a strong and compassionate world by facilitating transformation through understanding, trust, and empowerment.
He received his professional Life Coaching education from Newfield Network, a certified Life Coach training school, and is a member of the International Coach Federation.