When Fear Says “What If It Never Works?”

A coaching client told me recently that she’d hit the point where her chest felt tight and her brain started whispering, “What if it never works?”

I get that. That question always shows up when we’ve been holding everything together with strategy, caffeine, and faith. It sounds logical, but it’s really the nervous system saying, “I’m tired. I need safety.”

And I could feel the same for her.

So instead of trying to out-think the fear, here’s what I tell my clients (and myself) to do — especially when business feels uncertain.

1. Ground in what’s real

No spreadsheets, no big plans and just a return to the present.
Stop scrolling the news. Stop feeding your mind with triggers.
Anchor your thoughts to one thing that’s good and true right now.
That’s your baseline for clear decisions and creative thinking.

2. Listen to what fear is really asking for

“What if things don’t work out?” isn’t a prophecy; it’s a request for certainty.
Every creator, coach, and founder lives inside that question.
The people who look fearless? They’re simply practiced at walking with uncertainty instead of waiting for it to disappear.

3. Give your body evidence

Fear makes us forget our own history.
Write down three moments you pulled through, projects that paid off, launches that landed, bills that somehow got covered.
Proof brings oxygen back into the room and resets your nervous system to possibility.

4. Re-anchor in choice

You don’t have to know how everything will unfold.
You only need to remember that you’ll still be here, adapting, creating, and finding new ways that work.
That’s real safety—and it’s the foundation of sustainable business.

If you’ve been scared lately, remember: you don’t need guarantees.
Businesses are built this way, one uncertain, intentional step at a time.

Just take the next right step, breathe, and trust that you’re capable of finding the way again.

Because you always have.