SmallChange is a weekly feature at Never the Same River Twice. This category features quick and easy activities you can do on a lazy Sunday morning to learn a new skill and feel better. If you have any suggestions for this series, tell us your idea in the comments.

What? Why would you want to take valuable weekend (or Monday morning procrastination) time to imagine your worst fears?

Because drawing out detailed images of your worst fears – and then figuring your way out of them – can actually make you happier!

Think of one thing in your life that you would like to do but haven’t done yet because you’re afraid. You know there’s something. Maybe you want to start your own business. Maybe you want to ask an attractive person out on a date. Maybe you want to put on stiletto heels, fish net stockings, and a feather boa and dance a burlesque.

Whatever it is, imagine yourself doing that very thing. Then imagine everything possible falling apart all around you. Your business fails, your spouse leaves you, all your friends shun you and you end up waiting tables on the midnight shift at Denny’s. :O

Now figure out what you’re going to do about it.

On your break at Denny’s you can start polishing your resume, get a job with a great new start-up, and start dating one of the hot venture capitalists funding the company. That wasn’t so bad, was it? And chances are, if you started a business and failed in real life you would have the good sense to find other income sources long before you became a divorced social outcast.

Now it’s your turn. Get yourself some crayons and construction paper and draw a picture of despair. Then, on the other side draw the happy ending.

Yours in your worst nightmares (Bwahahaha),
Maria

P.S. If you’d like to read more about eliminating fear by defining it, take a look at Fear-Setting, Tim Ferris Style.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.