How to use the power of worry
Worry is normal and welcomed if it is put to good use.
In sport, contestants are often encouraged by their coaches to banish negative thinking and just focus on visualising positive outcomes.
In pop psychology this is labelled as 'the power of positive thinking' or manifesting.
But the problem with this limited approach is that any kind of negative thinking in the competitive arena is then widely-regarded as wrong and self-defeating. Worry is a big no-no, doubt is somehow aligned with weakness.
But the reality is that in any given situation, best case and worse case scenarios (as well as every other possible outcome) are available to be realised. By just selecting to imagine positive outcomes, the less optimal variants don't simply disappear as a consequence. In fact. the worst case scenarios amplify their power in the shadows, becoming threats for which the mind is ill-prepared.
To worry about the future is normal.
Despite what all of these so-called motivational assholes preach on social media, ruminating about worst case scenarios is what the human brain does and is also very useful if put to proper use.
Coming back from a 29-point deficit to win the final game that gave them the NBA title, Jalen Brunson of the NY Knicks made this iconic statement:
"You’re allowed to think about the worst possible scenario, but you gotta go out there and do something about it." - Jalen Brunson, after the biggest comeback in NBA Finals history.
That's exactly right.
Facing the worst case scenario in your mind is fine, if you then mentally prepare a response in which you figure out a path to overcome the challenge.
And in fact, this is how you build mental and physical resilience.
By imagining a series of worst case scenarios, you can get in the practice of finding positive responses no matter what.
On top of that, to use worst case scenarios as a method to preparing yourself, your organisation and your systems, right now, to absorb the pressure (in whatever form it comes) when it inevitably comes...is very smart.
Go out there and do something about it.
Worst case scenarios can be most valuable when they are met by the appropriate response.
Go out there and do something about it.