If you’re not familiar with Aikido, you probably imagine it’s all about kicking butt like Steven Segal and rolling all over the place in a secluded monastery.
You’re not far off. Except for the secluded monastery part.
The forward roll is a fundamental part of Aikido and is actually a pretty simple position. It’s just a bit scary at first.
In fact, when you first practice the position, it’s pretty helpful to try that a few times, just to realize that there’s nothing to be afraid of. Even the worst that could happen – – is completely harmless and you can handle it easier than a hungry dog handles bacon.
So why am I telling you all this? (Aside from encouraging you to try Aikido, because it’s pretty neat.)
The same applies to facing other scary situations.
Next time you face a scary situation, ask yourself – “What’s the worst that could happen?”
Take the time to face your fears, and figure out what you would do if the worst happens. Chances are, it’s nowhere near as tragic as it feels when you leave it as a vague fear.
Like doing the forward roll – falling over feels like a horrible tragedy, with all sorts of gory images crossing your mind. But once you face the reality of the situation and realize that it simply means you tuck your chin in and roll harmlessly onto your back – it’s suddenly about as scary as a piece of paper with “Rawr!” written on it.
You can apply this to all sorts of situations. Trying to start your own business. Calling new clients.
Once you know the worst (realistic) scenario, and make a plan for how you’ll handle it, you’ll realize it’s much less scary than you thought.
How about you? What scary situation are you currently about to face if you take action? What’s the worst that could happen, and how will you handle it? Let me know in the comments below!