I think most people don’t answer that question with a very positive response. I think it would disappear if it did. “What if I was successful? Happy? Grateful?” Yeah, I would argue that the questions we usually ask ourselves are anything but positive.

“What if I fail?” That can lead people to overprepare or avoid what they are afraid of failing in the first place. Failure is just data. It reflects nothing on who we were when we failed or who we are now.

“What if I can’t do it?” I’ve seen this one at board breaks. “What if I am the only one who doesn’t break the board?” There’s a deciding moment when someone stands in front of the group and describes her board. Before the board break, I usually ask. “Are you going to break this board?!” Sometimes there’s hesitation, but the resulting action of breaking the board speaks a lot louder!

The board often represents something that has kept him stuck for a very long time. It doesn’t need more hesitation or reinforcement. We’re here to break it, right here and right now! Yes, what’s written on the board is often something the person has battled with for a long time, so it needs to be associated with breaking it and nothing else.

“What if I get burned?” This is a typical firewalking concern, and I take many safety precautions to prevent it. If given a choice between walking on a regular path or a path of red-hot coals, we would naturally take the regular path. But sometimes the choice is between the downward path we have always taken or something new. We decide beforehand whether we are going to firewalk or not. This new direction or path won’t be easy! I am willing to do whatever it takes to make it!

Lastly, “What if?” takes you out of the present moment. Leading to questions about the past. “What if I did that instead?” or the future. “What if this happens?” Answering either question distracts you from what's happening in the present moment.

“What if something good happens?” Maybe it’s time you find out at one of my events.