“I know it’s probably not going to happen, but what if it does?”
“Can you guarantee this is safe?”
“Yes, but how horrible would it be if it does happen?”
These statements reflect individuals concerned about scary outcomes, something we hear every day in the office. While we agree that a ‘bad’ outcome such as a heart attack, a car crash, or being bitten by a shark should be avoided, the better question is how likely is this event?
Anything is possible, but what’s probable?
When we assume unlikely events are likely, it can leave us frozen with indecision: I want to join my friends on the beach, but what if I get attacked by a shark? Then I have a lose/lose scenario: If I go, I’ll be scared the whole time and not able to enjoy the time, but if I don’t go, I’ll won’t be anxious but will miss out spending time with my friends.
Focus on what’s likely rather than what’s possible.
If it’s so dangerous, why are all my friends going to the beach? How come they haven’t closed the beach? How often do shark attacks actually occur in my area?
Just because it feels scary doesn’t mean it’s dangerous.
Many people make decisions to feel less anxious as opposed to a wise choice despite the anxiety. Focusing on the desired outcome as opposed to decreasing anxiety is often the better choice.
While we can never guarantee safety or the best outcome, we don’t want to live based on fearing low likelihood possibilities: anything is possible, but what’s probable?