Fear in Disguise
Have you ever been so focused on making the “right” decision that you end up stuck?
In this video, I share a client story about analysis paralysis and the simple question that helped her move forward.
Analysis paralysis feels logical. You're just “thinking things through,” right? Pausing that train of thought gone wild can feel daunting, but I promise you, it’s really freeing.
For example: My client was offered a promotion. It was equally exhilarating and terrifying. It was a great role, and she would be a perfect fit. She would go beyond project execution into strategically scoping new projects. It was an opportunity to have an even greater impact in the organization.
She had a lot to consider:
Did she want increased responsibility?
What if her tech skills got rusty?
What if she didn’t like the new job?
She started imagining everything from catastrophic failure to becoming the expert in her new role and loving the job. She wanted to feel confident that she was making the ‘right’ decision, so her brain kept looping through every possible scenario.
It was classic analysis paralysis.
The kind that feels less like weighing options... and more like being stuck in traffic with a GPS frozen on recalculating.
She was held hostage by the fear of making the ‘perfect’ decision. Working together, I helped remind her that there is no such thing as perfect.
To gain perspective, I asked her…
“What’s the worst that could happen?”
Unsurprisingly, the catastrophic failure scenarios didn’t come up. Instead:
If she stayed in the current role, she could get bored… while being skilled enough to get a new job.
If she took the promotion, she might not like it… and her current team would likely welcome her back.
Either way, she’d be okay.
She took the promotion.
That shift helped her loosen the grip of fear, and she took the promotion. And… she hated it. Yes, she made what could be considered the ‘wrong’ choice. The role wasn’t what she’d expected. Yet, she didn’t spiral. She used the experience to reflect, get clear, and take steps toward what she really wanted.
In fact, she moved into a new field entirely. She was great at what she was doing, but it was time to try something new. Now she’s great in a completely different position. That wouldn't have happened if she hadn’t chosen the ‘wrong’ job. Sometimes “wrong” is the push you need to find right.
So if you’re staring at your own fork in the road, waiting for certainty to appear...
Remember: You don’t need to know how the whole story ends to turn the page.
Ready to make your next move?You don’t have to figure it all out on your own.
If you’re feeling stuck, considering a change, or simply wondering what’s next, let’s talk.
