What are you afraid might happen?

We all face situations that we dread. Decisions that we are unsure about. Conversations that we expect to be difficult. As you prepare for this type of scenario, why do you feel a sense of discomfort or unease? What are you afraid might happen?

Last night I was speaking with my daughter about school. She's in first grade and we got on the subject of speaking in front of the class. While she's an outgoing child, it turns out that standing up and speaking in front of her peers scares her. Reading aloud in front of them is even worse. (I'm sure that many of you can relate!) Public speaking is one of the most common fears that I hear and read about.

However, rather than tell her what to do or coddle her too much, I tried to talk about why she felt uncomfortable and what she was afraid of. How did she feel while her peers spoke in front of the class? Have her fears ever come true before? What might she do if they did come true? While I can't claim that we solved the problem, it felt like a productive way to get the conversation started.

Today, I encourage you to think about something that you've been dreading or something that scares you. Imagine some potential outcomes. Say them out loud, even if they might seem ridiculous. Then give yourself some space and ask yourself the questions below. See if you can't approach things with a new perspective. See if you can't ease your fears and put them aside.

Self-reflection:

• What is a scenario that you dread or that makes you uncomfortable?
• What are you afraid might happen?
• How likely is it that the things you fear will come true?
• How have you overcome fears in the past?
• What strategies can you employ to lessen the fear and its impact on you?