It might seem like always being optimistic is the best way to do things, but there’s a lot of power in anxiety and negative thinking. With this little exercise, you can prepare yourself for the best and worst-case scenarios.
Picture: Son of Groucho/Flickr
Anxiety can be utterly debilitating, but there’s also a way to adapt it into a strategic form of thinking. In her new book, Psychologist Alice Boyes explains how she struggles with anxiety, but uses a simple exercise to be prepared for any decision or situation:
“I make myself think of the worst that could happen and the best that could happen. Instead of just automatically assuming that something will have a negative outcome, I’ve trained my brain to see the possibility that it might have a positive one.”
Boyes lets her anxiety go and addresses each negative thought by preparing for the possibility of it coming to fruition. She also makes herself think of the best possible outcomes, which has led her to doing things she never thought she’d be able to do. In the same vein, if you’re a positive thinker most of the tame, plan for the worst as well. The next time you have something on your mind, like a big decision or stressful work environment, look both ways and see what you come up with.
Here’s a simple exercise that can help you think through any big decision [Business Insider]
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