Are You Letting Worry Sabotage Your Ability to Lead with Confidence?
Worry—easily one of the greatest thieves of momentum and peace.
If you’ve ever found yourself replaying “what ifs” in your mind, overanalyzing every decision, or freezing up in the face of uncertainty, you’re not alone. Worry can quietly cripple even the most capable leaders. It clouds vision, drains energy, and keeps you from showing up with clarity and conviction.
The Science Behind Worry
Worry isn’t random—it’s biological.
The part of your brain called the amygdala sits deep within the temporal lobe and acts as your internal alarm system. It scans for threats and triggers your fight-or-flight response. This was vital for survival thousands of years ago—but in modern leadership, that same mechanism fires even when there’s no real danger.
You might not be running from predators, but your body reacts the same way when facing risk, criticism, or uncertainty.
Your brain says: “Play it safe.”
Leadership says: “Step forward anyway.”
Our bodies crave comfort because comfort conserves energy. But growth and leadership require stepping into the unknown—territory where your brain feels unsafe. The moment you choose to lead yourself into something new, that primal mechanism sounds the alarm: What if this fails? What if people reject me? What if I’m not enough?
Awareness→
Take one minute to write down a current area of leadership that triggers worry for you.
Ask yourself: “What am I really afraid will happen?”
You’ll often find the fear is exaggerated—or even imaginary. Naming it begins to neutralize it.
My Battle with Worry
For years, worry ruled my life.
I worried about everything—my truck breaking down, my bills, relationships, my past, and my future. It wasn’t until I began to understand that worry was my body’s protective instinct (not a prophecy) that I could move beyond it.
I learned that much of my worry was fictional. My brain was creating imaginary outcomes in an effort to keep me “safe.” But safety rarely produces growth.
When I took the Big Five personality test, I ranked 100/100 in Neuroticism—meaning I’m genetically prone to anxiety and negative emotions. But here’s the truth I discovered:
Self-awareness doesn’t have to equal self-limitation.
Just because my wiring leans toward worry doesn’t mean I have to live there.
Self-Check→
→Click here to take The Big 5 Personality Test
And…
Identify one area where worry has consistently held you back from taking action—a conversation, decision, or goal.
Now ask: “What would I do if I wasn’t afraid?”
Then—do one small version of that today. Progress is built one act of courage at a time.
Worry and Leadership
Leadership and uncertainty are inseparable. The higher you climb, the less you can predict—and that’s okay. Worry will whisper lies to convince you that the unknown is a threat, when it’s actually the gateway to your next level of growth.
Over time, I learned to train my nervous system through intentional discomfort.
The cold plunge at 50 degrees for 5 minutes.
The gym at 5:30 a.m.
Each time, I’m teaching my body: “We can handle this.”
The more you practice being uncomfortable on purpose, the less power worry has over you when leadership gets hard. You’ve already built that muscle.
Train Your Tolerance→
Pick one “micro-challenge” to add into your routine this week—something you don’t want to do but will grow from.
Early workout
Cold shower
Difficult phone call
Tough conversation with your team
When discomfort becomes normal, courage becomes natural.
Reframing Worry as a Leadership Tool
Worry can actually be a teacher—it reveals what you value most. If you didn’t care, you wouldn’t worry. The key is transforming that energy from fear into focus.
When your mind starts spinning with “what ifs,” pause and ask:
Is this a real threat or a perceived one?
What’s one action I can take right now to move forward?
What can I be grateful for in this moment?
Gratitude grounds your nervous system and shifts your attention from lack to possibility.
Philippians 4:6 — “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
Reframe and Refocus→
Next time worry hits, breathe deeply and write down three things you’re grateful for.
Then pray or meditate on this truth: “Worry is not my guide—faith is.”
When your focus shifts to faith, your leadership follows.
Closing Challenge
Worry thrives in inaction. The only way to silence it is to move.
This week, challenge yourself to take bold, imperfect action in one area where worry has kept you stuck.
Your Challenge:
Do one thing this week that scares you — but moves you forward.
Have the conversation you’ve been avoiding.
Step into the room you’ve been talking yourself out of.
Lead with faith, not fear.
Declaration: “I will not let worry write my story. I will move forward with courage and conviction.”