Fear-Based vs. Growth-Based Living
The path of least resistance often leads to the garden of least fulfilment.
Two Ways to Live Your Life
Every decision you make comes from one of two places: fear or growth. Understanding which one drives you can completely change your life trajectory.
Fear-Based Living
When you live from fear, you make decisions to avoid potential problems rather than pursue potential joy.
- Staying in situations that make you unhappy because change feels risky
- Choosing what’s familiar over what’s fulfilling
- Making decisions based on "what could go wrong" instead of "what could go right"
- Prioritising safety over meaning
- Avoiding challenges to prevent potential failure
The result: You end up in what I call "the garden of least fulfilment" — a life that feels safe but empty.
Growth-Based Living
When you live from growth, you accept uncertainty and challenge in pursuit of meaning and expansion.
- Choosing opportunities that scare you but align with your values
- Accepting temporary discomfort for long-term fulfilment
- Making decisions based on potential rather than just security
- Viewing challenges as opportunities to develop, not threats to avoid
- Taking calculated risks for meaningful rewards
The result: A life that feels alive, even when it’s difficult.
The Key Difference
Fear-based thinking: "What if this goes wrong?"
Growth-based thinking: "What if this goes right?"
Which Mode Are You In?
Ask yourself:
- Are most of your major life decisions driven by avoiding something bad or pursuing something good?
- Do you feel more alive when taking on challenges or when everything is predictable?
- When you imagine your future, do you think about security or possibility?
The Choice
You don’t have to live your entire life from one mode. But recognising which one currently drives your decisions is the first step to choosing consciously.
Remember: The path of least resistance often leads to the garden of least fulfilment.