I'll never forget Sarah, a client who came to me feeling trapped in a dead-end job. When I asked her why she hadn't applied for her ideal position at a tech startup, her response was immediate: "What if I fail? What if they reject me?" - the fears that keep most people from making the moves they want to make.
So I introduced her to a powerful question that would change everything: "What's the best that could happen?"
Six months later, Sarah wasn't just working at that startup – she was leading their marketing department. Her story illustrates a fundamental truth: the questions we ask ourselves shape our reality.
While most of us habitually ask, "What's the worst that could happen?" flipping this question on its head can transform our lives in remarkable ways.
Understanding the Power of Positive Thinking
Our brains are wired to focus on potential threats – it's a survival mechanism that served our ancestors well but often holds us back in modern life. Research from the Mayo Clinic shows that negative thinking patterns can lead to increased stress levels, reduced immunity, and decreased life satisfaction. Conversely, positive thinking has been linked to:
23% lower levels of stress hormones
Increased life span by up to 7.5 years
50% lower risk of cardiovascular disease
Higher levels of career achievement and income
These aren't just feel-good statistics; they represent real, measurable changes in people's lives. The science is clear: our mindset matters more than we think.
The 'What's the Best That Could Happen?' Approach
This approach isn't about naive optimism or ignoring potential risks. Instead, it's about expanding our vision to include positive possibilities we might otherwise overlook. When we ask ourselves "What's the best that could happen?" we:
Open our minds to new opportunities
Generate creative solutions
Build confidence through positive visualization
Create momentum for action
Consider James, another client who dreamed of starting his own business but was paralyzed by fear. When we shifted his focus from potential failures to potential successes, he began seeing opportunities everywhere. Today, his consulting firm is thriving and serving clients across three continents!
Applying This Mindset to Different Areas of Life
Career Development
In the professional sphere, this question can revolutionize your approach to:
Job interviews: Instead of obsessing over potential rejection, imagine landing your dream role and excelling in it
Networking: Rather than dreading awkward conversations, envision making valuable connections that transform your career
Project pitches: Focus on the possibility of your ideas creating positive change in your organization
Relationships
This mindset shift can dramatically improve both personal and professional relationships by:
Encouraging open communication when you assume positive intent
Building trust through optimistic expectations
Creating opportunities for deeper connection and understanding
Personal Growth
The question "What's the best that could happen?" becomes a powerful tool for:
Setting ambitious goals
Overcoming limiting beliefs
Developing new skills and capabilities
Building resilience in the face of challenges
Making the Shift: Practical Steps
Start Each Day with Possibility. Begin your morning by asking "What's the best that could happen today?" Maybe even write down three positive possibilities.
Reframe Challenges. When facing obstacles, consciously shift from "What if it goes wrong?" to "What if it goes better than I could imagine?"
Create a Success Journal. Document instances where positive thinking led to favorable outcomes. This builds evidence for your brain that good things do happen.
Practice Positive Visualization. Spend five minutes daily imagining your best-case scenarios in vivid detail.
The Ripple Effect
The most remarkable aspect of this approach is how it creates a positive ripple effect. When you begin focusing on best-case scenarios, you:
Inspire others to adopt a more positive outlook
Create an environment that nurtures success
Build momentum that attracts opportunities
Develop resilience that helps you bounce back from setbacks
Your Journey Begins Now
Fun fact about Sarah - she recently told me that asking "What's the best that could happen?" has become second nature for her. Not only has it transformed her career, but she says it's also improved her relationship, her mental and physical health and her just overall life satisfaction.
What could this question do for you?
Take Action Today
Start by identifying one area of your life where you typically focus on worst-case scenarios
Write down three "best that could happen" possibilities for this situation
Take one small action toward making these possibilities reality
Are you ready to transform your life with this powerful question? As a career coach for more than a decade, I've seen this simple shift create extraordinary results for countless clients (and folx close to me in my personal life).
If you'd like to explore how this mindset change could accelerate your professional growth, let's connect.
Ready to dive deeper into transformative mindset work? Download my free guide "Set Yourself Up for Career Success" for more strategies and exercises to help you harness the power of visualization in your career.
Yours in ‘seriously, what could happen?’ career goodness-
EBS
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—-
EB Sanders | Career Coach for Creative Types
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