--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Don’t spend a lot of time imagining the…" description: "\"“Don’t spend a lot of time imagining the worst-case scenario. It rarely goes down as you imagine it will, and if by some fluke it does, you will have l..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce8/anonymous-1_fear_don-t-spend-a-lot-of-time-imagining-the_844292.jpg" --- # Don’t spend a lot of time imagining the worst-case… ![“Don’t spend a lot of time imagining the worst-case scenario. It rarely goes down as you imagine it will, and if by some fluke it does, you will have lived it twice. When things do go bad, don’t run, don’t hide. Stick it out, and be scrupulous in facing every part of your fear. Try to be still. It…” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce8/anonymous-1_fear_don-t-spend-a-lot-of-time-imagining-the_844292.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce8/anonymous-1_fear_don-t-spend-a-lot-of-time-imagining-the_844292.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce8/anonymous-1_fear_don-t-spend-a-lot-of-time-imagining-the_844292.jpg) > ““Don’t spend a lot of time imagining the worst-case scenario. It rarely goes down as you imagine it will, and if by some fluke it does, you will have lived it twice. When things do go bad, don’t run, don’t hide. Stick it out, and be scrupulous in facing every part of your fear. Try to be still. It will take time, but you’ll find that even the gravest problems are finite—and that your choices are infinite.”” [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Encourages confronting fear by facing worst-case scenarios, emphasizing resilience and the endless nature of choices. **In simple terms:** Face fears, stay resilient, remember choices are limitless. Key Takeaway Embrace fear, act despite uncertainty. Themes resilience fear management choice mindset Mood determined hopeful Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - personal crises - career setbacks - health challenges - relationship issues Key Concepts cognitive reframing acceptance growth mindset Questions to Reflect On - What fear could you confront today? - How can you expand perceived choices? A Different Perspective May underestimate real risks; overconfidence possible. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Facing fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facing-fear/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Fear Try](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear-try-677644/) [Imagining Worst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagining-worst-677645/) [Scenario](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scenario/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [Don't spend a lot of time imagining the worst-case scenario. It rarely goes down as you imagine it will, and if by some fluke…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-fox/don-t-spend-a-lot-of-time-imagining-the-worst-case-scenario-it-rarely-2/) [Michael J. Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-fox/) > [Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/courage-is-not-the-absence-of-fear-but-rather-the-judgement-that-3/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Fight your imperfections imagining that you are the worst, so you can perform as the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valentina/fight-your-imperfections-imagining-that-you-are-the-worst-so-you-can/) [Valentina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valentina/) > [I think what a lot of fiction is, is the imagining of the worst so as to prepare ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bloom/i-think-what-a-lot-of-fiction-is-is-the-imagining-of-the-worst-so-as/) [Paul Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bloom/) > [Low self esteem involves imagining the worst that other people can think about you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/low-self-esteem-involves-imagining-the-worst-that-other-people-can/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [The secret to a long-lasting relationship is perpetually imagining the worst. It's a world view tracing back to my Eastern European ancestry and one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-lister-jones/the-secret-to-a-long-lasting-relationship-is-perpetually-imagining/) [Zoe Lister-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-lister-jones/) > [If one sits down and concentrates on imagining the worst possible surroundings for rehearsing a musical show, it's never as bad as the rehearsal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hildegard-knef/if-one-sits-down-and-concentrates-on-imagining-the-worst-possible/) [Hildegard Knef](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hildegard-knef/) > [Those scenario you make up in your head when you are in love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/those-scenario-you-make-up-in-your-head-when-you-are-in-love/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Fear is something I try not to absorb.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-e-smith/fear-is-something-i-try-not-to-absorb/) [Mark E. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-e-smith/) > [“The distinct human self inflicted error is that we fear to try and when we try, we try with fear.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kumbirai-dhliwayo/the-distinct-human-self-inflicted-error-is-that-we-fear-to-try-and/) [Kumbirai Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kumbirai-dhliwayo/) > [~ You can't get over it because you fear it. Even if you try. ~](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince/you-can-t-get-over-it-because-you-fear-it-even-if-you-try/) [Vince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince/) > [I want everyone to live to their full potential without having to fear someone will try to knock them down or discriminate against them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/halima-aden/i-want-everyone-to-live-to-their-full-potential-without-having-to/) [Halima Aden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/halima-aden/) > [Fear will try to keep you from taking that first step. Don't give in to fear, do it afraid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/fear-will-try-to-keep-you-from-taking-that-first-step-don-t-give-in/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [“Leaving the world behind is the best experience most feeble minds fear to try.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/leaving-the-world-behind-is-the-best-experience-most-feeble-minds/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [I do get scared, but I think - like it says in another book I've read - feel the fear and do it anyway.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geri-halliwell/i-do-get-scared-but-i-think-like-it-says-in-another-book-i-ve-read/) [Geri Halliwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geri-halliwell/) ## More by Anonymous > [And a tear rolled down her cheek, as she said goodbye; because she's walking away, and she's never looking back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-a-tear-rolled-down-her-cheek-as-she-said-goodbye-because-she-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Scrabble - The game is available in Braille. That’s a nice fact. This makes me feel better about humanity for some reason. I can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scrabble-the-game-is-available-in-braille-that-s-a-nice-fact-this/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everyone needs someone to love, and I choose you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-to-love-and-i-choose-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Put on my J's and dance the whole night away Im naughty by nature like Im hip-hop hooray With my hands in the sky,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/put-on-my-j-s-and-dance-the-whole-night-away-im-naughty-by-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Me.. I have been through a lot, but I still manage to have a smile on my face. Im not worried about the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-i-have-been-through-a-lot-but-i-still-manage-to-have-a-smile-on-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Distance is a test of love. many will fail for those who can't withstand it, but for those who can, theres only one answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/distance-is-a-test-of-love-many-will-fail-for-those-who-can-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Im sorry I ever tried...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-sorry-i-ever-tried/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Being betrayed by the one you love is the worst feeling in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-betrayed-by-the-one-you-love-is-the-worst-feeling-in-the-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only person I've ever purposely caused pain here is myself...By simply sharing, caring too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-person-i-ve-ever-purposely-caused-pain-here-is-myself-by/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Explore all 162,899 Anonymous quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More Facing fear quotes > [When fear ceases to scare you, it cannot stay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-zukav/when-fear-ceases-to-scare-you-it-cannot-stay/) [Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/) > [When you look fear in the face, you are able to say to yourself, 'I lived through this horror. I can take the next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/when-you-look-fear-in-the-face-you-are-able-to-say-to-yourself-i/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [The only thing we have to fear is fear itself-and possibly teh bogey man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-paulsen/the-only-thing-we-have-to-fear-is-fear-itself-and-possibly-teh-bogey/) [Pat Paulsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-paulsen/) > [The 'Amazing' can only be created by facing fear, risk and failure during the process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-brown/the-amazing-can-only-be-created-by-facing-fear-risk-and-failure/) [Joel Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-brown/) > [“All thinking things fear. Sentience, perhaps, is facing that fear and conquering it rather than succumbing. A tiger will drown in a tar pit,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-e-murphy/all-thinking-things-fear-sentience-perhaps-is-facing-that-fear-and/) [C.E. Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-e-murphy/) > [As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/as-we-are-liberated-from-our-own-fear-our-presence-automatically/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [“Once we face our fear, once we treat our anxiety itself as a thing, we can then choose otherwise. Instead of filling the unknown…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-w-jones/once-we-face-our-fear-once-we-treat-our-anxiety-itself-as-a-thing-we/) [David W. Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-w-jones/) > [“Fear never scaled one mountain, never stepped up on a stage, never accepted a challenge, never tilled new ground, never walked in a race;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/fear-never-scaled-one-mountain-never-stepped-up-on-a-stage-never/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people will not feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/there-is-nothing-enlightened-about-shrinking-so-that-other-people/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [Your playing small doesn't serve the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/your-playing-small-doesn-t-serve-the-world/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face… The danger lies in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/you-gain-strength-courage-and-confidence-by-every-experience-in-which-2/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [Knowing what must be done does away with fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosa-parks/knowing-what-must-be-done-does-away-with-fear/) [Rosa Parks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosa-parks/) > [“The only way to handle fear is to deliberately face it - to go with the fear and yet not to submit to it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/th-un-mares/the-only-way-to-handle-fear-is-to-deliberately-face-it-to-go-with-the/) [Théun Mares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/th-un-mares/) > [“Facing the fear helped. Most days. But the thing about fear was that it ate away at your reason, made you smaller. It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-dane/facing-the-fear-helped-most-days-but-the-thing-about-fear-was-that-it/) [Lauren Dane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-dane/) > [“God has given you the power and desire to change but you still need to be willing to do the work. Doing the work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-barbarulo-author-god-s-healing-hands-allow-god-to-reshape-your-soul/god-has-given-you-the-power-and-desire-to-change-but-you-still-need/) [Michael Barbarulo: Author God's Healing Hands: Allow God To Reshape Your Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-barbarulo-author-god-s-healing-hands-allow-god-to-reshape-your-soul/) [Browse all 50 Facing fear quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facing-fear/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Don’t spend a lot of time imagining the worst-case scenario. It rarely goes down as you imagine it will, and if by some fluke it does, you will have lived it twice. When things do go bad, don’t run, don’t hide. Stick it out, and be scrupulous in facing every part of your fear. Try to be still. 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