Your Mind is Protecting You From Tigers, Snakes, and Bears

Your mind is trying to keep you safe…by holding you back.

I call it the Worst-Case Cascade. It happens whenever you’re about to:

• Make an important decision.
• Try something new.
• Step out of your comfort zone.

Here’s the science: Your brain is wired with a negativity bias—a survival instinct. Back in the day, assuming a tiger, a snake, or a bear was hiding in the bushes meant staying alive just a little longer.

Nowadays, you’re more likely to find tigers in the zoo. Bears and snakes? You still got to watch out for, especially when camping. 

The point is this: this survival instinct has turned into everyday anxiety. It sounds more like:

• “What if I fail?”
• “What if I embarrass myself?”

And it stops you from taking action.

But here’s a small shift with BIG impact:
Ask a different “What if?”

• “What if I surprise myself by succeeding?”
• “What if I go to that event and meet one amazing person?”
• “What if starting my business changes everything?”

This one shift turned things around for a client of mine. Their anxiety said, “Skip that networking event.” But when they flipped the thought, they showed up, made great connections, and felt proud.

Next time you’re stuck in the cascade, pause. Stop looking for snakes. 😉 Breathe. Flip the “What if?” to a positive outcome. Then take action.

Photo by Ryan Jubber on Unsplash