Welcome to The Quiet Rich, a weekly newsletter with proven methods for a quiet mind + a rich life.

Today, I’m giving you the #1 method to shrink your worries and declutter your mind (especially when facing a big decision).

CONTEXT

Most of our minds are filled with clutter. Past regrets, future worries, present anxieties. But each of these are different spellings of the same word: fear.

Here’s the thing.

Fear is a mile wide, but an inch deep. When we look at it from afar, it’s a daunting ocean. But if we just take that first step in? We’ll realize it’s a puddle. We might even laugh, saying “This is what I was so afraid of?”

That’s what we’re doing today.

Let’s focus on the 1 thing that is cluttering up your mind. Perhaps you:

• Know you should leave your job, but you’re afraid of not getting something else.

• Want to move somewhere new, but you’re worried about making the wrong choice.

• Think you should end a relationship, but you’re afraid you’ll never meet someone better.

Here’s the best 6-step method to shrink those fears. Put on your rain boots, and step in:

THE METHOD

Step 1: Get a pen and paper (or open a blank note on your laptop). Give yourself 20 minutes of uninterrupted time.

Step 2: Think about the decision you need to make, and ask yourself: “What am I most afraid of right now? What’s my biggest worry?”

Step 3: Now write down the absolute worst case scenario of making the wrong choice. Get extremely specific. If everything goes wrong, what would it look like? What would it feel like? Would it be the end of your life? What would the permanent impact be?

Step 4: Now ask yourself: How likely is that worst case scenario? Is the impact really permanent? If it does happen, what steps could you take to repair the damage, even if temporarily? How could you get things back under control? (Chances are, it’s easier than you imagine.)

Step 5: Now consider the other possible outcomes. What if that worst case scenario doesn’t happen? What are the more probable outcomes— or even the upside? What would that upside be on a scale of 1–10?

Step 6: Final question: What is it costing you—financially, emotionally, and physically—to postpone the decision? Yes, there can be downside to action. But there’s also downside to inaction. If you don’t make any choice, where will you be in one year, five years, and ten years?

WHY IT WORKS

“We suffer more in our imagination than in reality.” — Seneca

It’s tempting to put off decisions out of fear. We don’t want to have that tough conversation. We don’t want to send that resignation letter. But usually what we fear most is the thing we most need to do. As the famous saying goes, “The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.”

Instead of trying to suppress your worries about that worst case scenario, give them dedicated space and time. Take a clear look at them.

Once they're out of your head and onto a page, you'll be able to see that they're not as likely as you thought (or have smaller consequences than you imagined).

I’ll leave you with one final quote: “I am an old man and have known a great many troubles, but most of them never happened.” — Mark Twain

Until next week,

Jade

P.S. If you’re ready to grow your online brand in 2024, you don’t need a course. You need a community. Learn more about Archimedes (my private membership club for LinkedIn thought leaders) at JoinArchimedes.com. If you have any questions, reach out to me, Ben, or Colby. Spots are extremely limited.

P.P.S. If you’re new here, hello! Sending a warm welcome to everyone who joined The Quiet Rich community since last week! Learn more about The Quiet Rich here. 🎉