The Fear-Setting Tool
Uncertainty can make a decision harder. This exercise draws on the Stoic practice of premeditatio malorum: thinking ahead about difficulties so you can prepare for them.
Start by writing down what you are afraid might happen.
Use this tool to identify possible setbacks, consider how you could prevent or respond to them, and weigh the costs of acting and waiting. Some risks are serious; the aim is to understand them before deciding.
Try it when you are weighing a difficult conversation, a career change, or another decision you have been putting off.
Define the Fear
What decision are you considering?
Possible Setbacks
What could realistically go wrong, and how could you respond?
The Cost of Inaction
If you do nothing, where will you be in 1 year?
Your Decision Review
Compare the risks of acting with the costs of waiting. Decide what is reasonable for your situation.
Risks of Acting
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Costs of Waiting
Want more practices like this? Try the 12 Stoic exercises handbook, with step-by-step instructions and printable cards.