“What if something terrible happens?”

When your voice says:

“What if the worst possible thing happens?”

“I can already picture how this turns into a disaster.”

Coach Lynn says:

That is catastrophizing. A difficult outcome may be possible, but possibility is not the same as probability.

Then you say:

Here’s what I need to do:

• Take one or more Composure Breaths to settle my body.
• Name the most likely outcome, not only the worst one.
• Identify one reasonable contingency if the difficult outcome did occur.
• Return to the next action I can take now.

Coach Lynn says:

You can prepare for what might happen without expecting the worst. When you quiet the emotion, you can think clearly, solve problems, and move forward with steady composure.