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What is Fear Setting?

Achieving goals isn't just about knowing what you want. It's also about understanding and navigating the fears that could potentially hold you back. Fear is natural - it’s built into us to help with our survival, but often, it's not based on reality, or it's an exaggerated perception of it.

Fear Setting is a method I learned about from Tim Ferris that helps you deconstruct those fears, making them tangible, and creating strategies to overcome or mitigate them.

Directions for Use:

  1. Being with a goal you want to achieve. (Define your goals here)
  2. Fill out this template from start to finish.
  3. Take your time; there's no rush. Reflect deeply on each question.
  4. After completing, save or pin it in a place where you can revisit regularly.
  5. Do it every 3-4 months to reassess your fears and what to do going forward.

Fear Setting Exercise

1. Define

In this column, write down in detail every fear you have related to your goal.

If you want to conquer your fears, name them. For instance, if your goal is to start a new business, you might fear losing your savings, facing criticism from people you respect, the possibility of the venture failing entirely or even the fear of it succeeding. In as much detail as you can, write down everything you’re afraid of happing on the road to your end goal.


Examples: Being financially unstable after quitting your job to become an entrepreneur, getting rejected when looking for love, getting laughed at when public speaking

  1. _________(Optional)
  2. _________(Optional)

2. Prevent

In the second column, write down everything you can do to prevent those fears from coming true.

If you're afraid of losing your savings when starting a business, you can take courses on financial management, budgeting, or even consider getting a financial consultant to guide you. These things would at the least create a buffer between you and your fear.


Examples: Develop a solid business plan, save 6 months of runway, talk to 1 new person per day, taking a public speaking class, gain more personal confidence

  1. _________(Optional)
  2. _________(Optional)

3. Repair

The final column is for you to write down everything that you can do to repair the situation if those fears were to come true.

Often, we overestimate the lasting impact of our fears, thinking they can cause irreparable damage. But in most cases, there are steps we can take to remedy or, at least, lessen their negative impacts.

It's also important to note that "repair" doesn't necessarily mean "fix entirely." It's about managing the aftermath in a way that helps you regain control and move forward. Things will go wrong, but people who succeed are people who can reassess and keep moving.


Examples: Find a new job, seek support from friends, use the experience as a learning opportunity to grow

  1. _________(Optional)
  2. _________(Optional)

By the end of this Fear Setting exercise, you'll likely realize two things:

  1. Many of your fears aren't as daunting when placed under scrutiny. Often, they are products of our imagination, magnified by anxiety and uncertainty.

  2. Even if some fears do come true, there are often actionable steps you can take to repair and move forward. Understanding this provides a sense of empowerment and reduces the paralyzing effect fear often has.

Fear Setting doesn’t eliminate the presence of fear. Instead, it transforms it. By identifying, understanding, and preparing for our fears, we turn them from looming threats into challenges we're equipped to handle. Remember, fear is just an emotion. What defines us is not the fears we have but how we choose to confront them.

Now, with a clear roadmap of your dreams, actionable steps to achieve them, and strategies to handle potential fears, you're set to embark on a journey to your dream life. Don't let fear hold you back; let it fuel your drive. Because on the other side of fear is everything you ever wanted.


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Contact Me!

Thanks for following along with the Fear Setting template! If you want to get in touch with me or see some of my other work, check out the links below:

YouTube - Twitter/X - The Jailbreak Newsletter - RIGS Method