Facing the Abyss: How Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and the Worst-Case Scenario Exercise Changed My Life

In moments of crisis, the mind can either be your greatest adversary or your most potent ally. For me, the COVID-19 pandemic was the crucible that tested every ounce of resilience I thought I had. Facing the very real prospect of losing CUTESolutions, the business I had painstakingly built over 20 years, my team, all my investments, and even my home, I found myself at a crossroads. This fear of loss wasn't unfamiliar territory; having navigated through the end of my marriage two years prior, I felt profoundly alone in facing another tumultuous storm. But it was within this storm that I discovered a life-altering exercise rooted in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): imagining the worst-case scenario.

Imagining the Unthinkable

I’ve learned from experience that if you really want to get the benefit from a new habit, you really have to commit to it. So I decided to sit down every day for 30 minutes on my meditation cushion, and face my fears full-on. I mean, I really went for it. This exercise isn't about wallowing in despair. It's about confronting your deepest fears head-on and asking yourself, "Then what?" So, I dove deep. Over the course of a week of doing this exercise daily, I visualized the painful conversations with my team, the sale of my house and leaving behind a life I knew, moving into a much smaller, less inviting space. Yet, one day, I think at around day seven, as I journeyed through yet another terrifying visualization, a curious shift occurred. The bleak outlook of a cramped apartment transformed into a decision to use my remaining funds to move to Bali for six months, with no concrete plan but to de-stress and practice yoga daily.

The Revelation

What emerged from this mental exercise was a profound inner peace and an unexpected realization: I was actually attracted to the possibility of this alternative life. The image of a happy, carefree "Bali-Sarah" was infinitely more appealing than the reality of my current, stress-filled existence. It was in this moment of clarity that I recognized not everything I feared losing was something I wanted to keep.

A Turning Point

This realization wasn't merely an epiphany; it was a catalyst for radical change. It dawned on me that I didn't have to wait for external circumstances to dictate my happiness or my life's path. I could choose to design a life filled with freedom and peace, a life that the "Bali-Sarah" in my mind's eye would approve of. And from the ashes of my previous life, SkillsGym was born.

SkillsGym: A New Beginning

SkillsGym isn't just a business; it's the manifestation of my desire for a different way of working and living—one that offers the freedom and joy I once believed was only possible in a place like Bali. Yes, in the end, I did lose my business as it was and most of my team on the pay-roll, but what I gained in return was immeasurably greater. My brother, Lotte and our freelance trainers remained by my side, for which I am eternally grateful, and together, we embarked on this new venture. Now, here’s the kicker: the disaster I was bracing for never hit. My business? Far from tanking, we quickly were making more profit than we’d ever made, and with a much smaller, and more agile team.

Embracing Freedom

The journey from the depths of fear to the heights of freedom was initiated by facing my worst-case scenario head-on. It taught me that sometimes, the very things we fear losing are not the anchors we need to hold onto. By letting go, I found peace and the space to create something new and more aligned with who I truly am.

This experience is a testament to the transformative power of CBT and the importance of facing our fears. It reminds us that sometimes, the worst-case scenario can be the beginning of something extraordinary. For anyone standing on the precipice of change, feeling paralyzed by fear, know that there is a way through. It starts with facing those fears, imagining the worst, and then, finding the freedom to redesign your life. Just like I did.

Talk to you in two weeks,

Sarah

Want to learn more about this exercise and do it together with me? Watch the recording of my LinkedIn Live here. Or if you want to learn more about what we do at SkillsGym, go take a look at our website.