#401 – What do you gain when you prepare for the worst-case scenario?

If you're the Head of Crisis Prevention at an amusement park, preparing for all the worst-case scenarios possible, plausible, and unforeseeable is the smart thing to do. It's your job.

But if you're just a human trying to go through life and get the most out of it, not so much.

In crisis-prevention mode, all your senses are focused on spotting danger before it occurs, dodging the metaphorical bullets. Your Ego loves it. Bossing the Ghosts around, sending them in missions to different parts of your brain, makes it feel important. Indispensable. Loved.

It's ok to love your Ego––you wouldn't have survived middle-school without it. But now that the bullies no longer have power over what you wear, eat, or create, you don't have to adopt its fears.

I once knew a brilliant writer who felt she wasn't good enough. Despite having myriad stories to tell, and a distinctive, pragmatic, humorous voice, the "what are they gonna think about me?" thought never left her mind.

She wrote measuring her words for fear that someone in her life would take offense, that the "real writers" would reject her, that readers would grow tired of her narrative. Above all, she wanted to prevent the biggest crisis she could imagine: being disliked.

Eventually, she gave up writing and opened a coaching business. Anything to avoid the danger of rejection.

What crises are you willing to go through to keep your creativity alive?

Love,

Carolina