09.11.26 – Blog 6B [2/2] — Day 16
[contd.]
Do Not Fight the First Thought
Suppose your mind says:
“What if my presentation does not go perfectly?”
Instead of trying to force that thought out of your mind, ask yourself:
“Then what?”
This simple question changes the direction of your thinking.
For middle- and senior-level employees, CEOs, self-employed consultants, entrepreneurs and business persons aged 30–50 years, many situations involve uncertainty that cannot be completely removed.
The objective is therefore not to demand certainty.
The objective is to remind yourself that you can usually take some practical action even if things do not happen exactly as planned.
How “Then What?” Works
Your mind says:
“What if I forget one point?”
Ask:
“Then what?”
Answer:
“I can check my notes and continue.”
Your mind says:
“What if somebody disagrees with me?”
Ask:
“Then what?”
Answer:
“I can listen, clarify my point and respond calmly.”
Your mind says:
“What if the result is not what I expected?”
Ask:
“Then what?”
Answer:
“I can review what happened and decide my next step.”
Notice the difference.
“What If?” keeps looking for danger.
“Then What?” looks for your response.
Move From Possibility to Capability
The future is not always predictable.
But you usually have more ability to respond than your worried mind initially remembers.
Whenever your mind starts creating a chain of “What If?” questions, use one simple interruption:
WHAT IF? → THEN WHAT?
Then identify the next sensible action available to you.
You are not telling yourself that nothing can go wrong.
You are reminding yourself:
“Even if something unexpected happens, I can think again and take the next appropriate step.”
That is a far more practical way to deal with uncertainty.
Dr. Sudhir Arora, MBBS
Mind Mastery Mentor
937 101 9517
Disclaimer: Dr. Sudhir Arora, MBBS is NOT a psychiatrist. This article is for general educational purposes only and is NOT a substitute for appropriate medical, surgical or psychiatric health care—whether routine or emergency care.
