Psychology says go with the choice that scares you the most because that’s the one that’s going to help you grow? Why or why not?

Good psychology does not do blanket, one size fits all answers. The advice you mentioned is somebody’s belief or sales pitch. What you should do is what is best FOR YOU. Fear exists for a reason. It is there to warn us. Some things are too dangerous to do. We can also feel fear when we face something new and unknown. Or we may feel fear about something we had a bad experience with in the past. The fear should be examined. Maybe you had that bad experience because you actually lack skills in that department. Or maybe a mishap occurred that had nothing to do with your skills. Examining it will hopefully make this clear.

The same examining can be done about a new subject. Is there an actual danger? What could go wrong? Would you be depending upon another person’s expertise? How can you tell if they are competent enough to depend on?

USE your fear to make a safe and informed decision. Not doing it is okay. Remember you will pay the consequences if there are any. You don’t have to make an “either/or” type of choice. “Do it or don’t do it.” You can make a choice in between. “I’ll do it after I have determined it is safe.”

So your real question needs to be,” Is such and such safe?”

It is more properly stated go with the choice that challenges you the most. Fear is at times ok to include but not absolutely necessary. We can go from all experience however the more challenging the experience provides us the opportunity to use many different skills and thereby grow more in depth.

Some psychologists may advise that in certain situations but no real professional would make such a broad statement as that.

“Go with the choice that scares you the most.” So, instead of using the stairs I will jump off the building.

However, ‘The one who has never failed is the one who has never tried.’

Facing your fears makes you more inclined to learn from those fears and able to face other, future insecurities more readily. This change of mindset is a form of growth and is quite productive and healthy.

Fear is a protection, it is a protection of the self or identity. The identity is what? The idea of you is what? Look….

If you are more specific with your question, you will probably get a more suitable answer. I feel like there is an aspect of your life that you are questioning, however you are being vague and broad in your approach to something that I bet is very specific to you. So until you ask a specific question I'll keep giving you broad answers that you hopefully find helpful.

Choice assessment 101

For example

Do I run towards or away from an angry bear?

Is this situation scary? Yes

Running towards? Good choice? Depends on your confidence level and type of bear.

Running away? Good choice? Depends on how fast you are.

To me it's not as simple as making every scary choice because you might grow from it.

If you are reserved and making choices to stay in your comfort zone, you will likely benefit from getting out of your comfort zone.

If something just doesn't feel right, there is probably a good reason why and you should probably follow your gut. (Thank you Suzanne for adding that insight)

I can tell you honestly when something feels wrong to me, or if I'm acting out of fear or anxiety, or if I'm just being lazy and not challenging myself.

You should practice doing the same assessments on yourself.

Why are you buying coffee at this coffee shop at this time?

Why are you driving this way to work?

Why are you eating dinner at this restaurant?

If the answer is because you are just being lazy and not challenging yourself, you should certainly branch out.

If the answer is because something simply feels wrong, you should listen to that side of yourself.

If the answer is because you are comfortable in that part or your routine. There is nothing wrong with that.

It's about achieving balance. Finding and growing roots in your life while continuing to challenge who you are and what you are able to achieve.

In a lot of circumstances yes but use your common sense. For instance, if a new job offer comes up in another country but you are scared of moving to a new country and starting a new life, this is when It would be good to move as you will grow as a person from the experience.

If jumping off a large cliff into an ocean where you don’t know what’s at the bottom scares you I probably wouldn’t do it. If that makes sense.

Always try and conquer your fears though as this will trigger growth, half the time it’s normally our minds playing tricks on us.

In my case it has always been true. When I am scared of something that is because I am ignorant of it. Once I do the work I am not scared any more because I faced it and now I know what it is and why.

A straight YES!

I always wanted to be a Consultant that too a healthcare Management Consultant. I started dreaming about this profession since my high school. I was average in mathematics and physics.

Boarding school was all free and fully sponsored but I didn’t want up my dream so I had to quit and join a school where I had to pay hefty fee for one year of high school, and then even more for two years and +1, and +4 college and masters in healthcare management which basically is the gateway to my masters in hospital management.

12 years from here I am in middle east working as a freelance consultant.

Yes, what I am doing now is what I always wanted to do when I grow up.

I also want to have my company as I grow up from here, which I’m hoping I’ll do very soon.

Cheers.