'

OW TO OVERCOME THE AN
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ARAlYSIS
WHAT IF?
HOW TO OVERCOME THE
ANALYSIS PARALYSIS
WHAT IF?
HOW TO OVERCOME THE
ANALYSIS PARALYSIS

FORTIFIED-HILARY OKOEGUALE
WHAT IF?

Copyright 2024

All rights reserved. No portion of

this publication may be reproduced,
or stored in retrieval system or
transmitted in any form or by any
means; Electronic, mechanical, or
any other without permission of the
author.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Phone No: 09153610175.

09135527177

Email: [email protected]
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION - - 1
NOTHING TO LOSE - - 4
DO IT AFRAID - - 9
OPTIMISM WINS - - 14
LET YOUR ‘’WHAT IF’’ BE IN
THE POSITIVE - - 20
AFFIRMATIONS - - 30
GO FOR IT - - - 41
FAILING DOESN'T KILL - 52
INTRODUCTION

I once wrote a Facebook post about

my experience at the zoo, where I
was offered a live snake to hold. The
zoo guide assured me it wouldn't
bite, but my mind was flooded with
doubts - what if it does?
I struggled with the fear, but
eventually decided to hold the snake,
and nothing happened. It made me
realize how often we hold ourselves
back with negative thoughts and
self-doubt.

My cousin was inspired by the post

and encouraged me to write a book
1
about it, even suggesting a cover
design and title.

Initially, I didn't think I'd write a

book, but later, while reflecting on
the experience, ideas started
flowing, and I began writing.

This book is the result of that

journey, aimed at inspiring and
challenging you to overcome
limiting thoughts and beliefs.

The 'what if' voice in our heads is

often a lie, designed to fill us with
fear, doubt, and unbelief.

2
I hope this book will empower you
to overcome those voices and
become all that God has designed
you to be.

3
CHAPTER 1

NOTHING TO LOSE
There's nothing to lose when you
take a risk to pursue something
you're led to do, called to do, or
know is right to do.

If there are things to lose in doing

something noble and of value, the
only things you'll lose are fear,
doubt, and unbelief.

4
There is nothing to lose in taking the
risk at and going ahead with your
dreams, visions, ideas, regardless the
surrounding challenges, obstacles
and oppositions.

So, don't let negative thoughts hold

you back. Instead of focusing on
"what if I fail, make a mistake or
lose?", tell yourself “What if I
succeed, get it right and win?" and
let that thought empower you to
move forward, take the risk and
make the move for your dreams, and
goals.

I recall a personal experience where

I was hesitant to hold a snake due to
5
fear, despite being assured it
wouldn't bite.

But I eventually took the risk and

held it, knowing I had nothing to
lose. Similarly, when you're doing
what God has called you to do, you
have nothing to lose.

Knowing as long as God is with you,

He got you covered. Going with this
consciousness, shut out the lies that
fuel fear and doubt.

All of the lies that says to you, what if

nobody buys your product, request
for your service, appreciate your
6
vision, buy into your dream or no
one attends your programs, concert
or service.

Remember, every winner has the

mindset of "I have nothing to lose."

You see, the above thoughts have no

regard for the anointed, holy or
gifted. It invades the mind of
everyone, even the pope, gifted or
super anointed.
Hence, what is important is that you
shut it out whenever it speaks, as
you go about taking the risk and
going ahead with goals, dreams,
vision or that thing of value, that God
7
has called you to do and gifted you to
do.

You have nothing to lose in going

after that which is in line with God's
will and plan for your life. Like I
shared earlier, you will only lose
your fear, doubt and unbelief.

Esther, for instance, took a risk to

demand the king's attention,
knowing it could mean death. But
she was willing to die for a noble
cause, something bigger than herself.
If God is leading you, If it's the right
thing to do, and it's a just cause, then
go for it! You've got nothing to lose.

8
CHAPTER 2

DO IT AFRAID
There have been many instances in
my life where I've pursued my
dreams, goals, and utilized my gifts
despite having fear in my mind.

I recall when I first started speaking

and preaching, I would often have
fear try to fill my head before going
on stage or preaching.

9
Fear produced by negative thoughts
like "what if this happens or that
happens" would invade my mind.

However, I would take a bold step

and push through the fear, speaking
and preaching despite it.

Once I am on the platform, I would

forget all about the fear and focus on
the message. Reflecting on the
experience afterwards, I would
realize that I had indeed been fearful
beforehand.
While it may seem like a thing of the
past, I still encounter fear sometimes
even now.
10
Nevertheless, I continue to push
forward, doing what I'm supposed to
do despite the fear trying to hold me
back.

Courage is not the absence of fear,

but rather the willingness to take
action despite fear.

Doing something afraid is not a sign

of weakness or lack of faith, but an
act of courage.

It is not the presence of fear that

hinders us from doing what we
should, but the absence of courage.

11
So, don't let fear hold you back from
pursuing your goals and dreams.
Remember, Esther in the Bible took
a risk and approached the king
despite the potential consequences,
showing that even in fear, we can
find the courage to act.

The voice of fear and doubt may

always be present, but it's up to us to
push past it and take bold steps.

The absence of fear does not

necessarily mean courage; true
courage is seen in taking action
despite fear.
12
So, go ahead and take the leap, apply
for the job, try the relationship, or
take the trip - do it afraid.

You've prayed, you have the Word,

and you've done all you should;
don't let fear hold you back
anymore. Push back against the
voice of doubt and negativity, and
remember that Esther's story shows
us that our fears are often just lies or
figments of our imagination.

Go ahead, do it afraid, and discover

that the voice of fear was holding
you back for no reason.

13
CHAPTER 3

OPTIMISM WINS
You can never be too optimistic!
Optimism is a winning mindset, and
winners are optimistic people.

Even in adversity, they remain

optimistic. Pessimism and negative
thinking can hold you back, but
optimism will propel you forward.

You must be optimistic about your

goals, dreams, vision, and life in

14
general. Optimism is key to winning
and achieving success.

Esther's story is a great example. She

had to be optimistic to win, and her
optimism played a significant role in
her success. Yes, prayer and fasting
were essential, but optimism was
also crucial.

You need both spiritual and mental

alignment to win. Many people pray
and fast but remain stuck due to a
lack of optimism.
Through prayer and fasting, clarity is
gained, direction is gotten,
instructions are received, and things
15
are activated and settled in the Spirit
in one’s favour.

However, because of the lack of

optimism- which is an attitude of the
mind, many of us are hindered from
making the moves we ought to.

As our minds, are clouded with

hopeless perspectives and negative
expectations of outcomes as
touching that which we are going
after.

My wife, while hospitalized and

paralyzed from neck to toe, shared
with me how a fellow patient also
16
with Guillain-Barré syndrome had
passed away, despite having a less
severe case.

When the doctor asked my wife if

she was afraid, she confidently
replied, "No, we don't have the same
destiny." During her hospital stay,
she never once imagined death or
viewed her condition as a death
sentence.

Instead, she sang, read, and

envisioned herself returning home
to play with her brothers and pursue
her dreams.

17
This is optimism at its peak, and as
she expected, she recovered and
went on to fulfill those very dreams.

It is important we know, that the

mind and spirit must be in
agreement to achieve success.

Train your mind to be optimistic,

and have a hopeful perspective even
in challenging situations. Optimism
is a mental attitude that will help
you win.

Don't let pessimism hold you back;

instead, choose to be optimistic

18
every day. Remember, optimism
wins!

19
CHAPTER 4

LET YOUR ‘’WHAT IF’’ BE IN THE

POSITIVE
A young lady I know was shortlisted
for a senior management role, along
with two other candidates. As the
only woman in the running, she
expressed her concerns to me before
the selection exams, fearing she
might not be chosen.

Despite her reservations, she was

content with her current role as a
supervisor and hesitant to strive for
more.

20
I sensed her being hesitant was due
to negative "what ifs." I encouraged
her to focus on positive possibilities;
I offered her encouragement and
prayer, and she went on to take the
exams.

Days later, she contacted me with

the exciting news that she had
emerged first and secured the senior
management position.

You see, thinking "what if" is not the

problem; the problem lies in
thinking "what if" in the negative.

21
So, choose to think "what if" in the
positive. Train your mind to focus on
positive possibilities and silence the
negative "what ifs."

I recall a personal experience at a

zoo where I hesitated to hold a snake
due to negative "what ifs."

But, after careful observation, I took

the snake, and it didn't bite. This
experience taught me that negative
"what ifs" can hold us back from
taking risks and living fully.

It can hold us back from making bold

decisions, taking significant leaps,
22
exploring new opportunities, and
embarking on adventures that can
propel us to new heights, foster self-
discovery, and lead to
breakthroughs.

Sincerely, if there must be "what ifs,"

let them be positive and cautious,
prompting thoughtful and careful
consideration in all you do.

You will never fully live, tap into

your potentials, reach great heights,
or experience remarkable success in
business, faith, career, academics,
ministry, and other areas, until you
learn to silence the negative "what
ifs" in your mind.
23
Be aware that the voice of negative
"what ifs" will periodically try to
influence your thoughts. However, if
you desire to win, break through,
achieve greatness, advance, and live
a fulfilling life, you must master the
art of silencing this voice.

I hope and pray that this material

will be used by the Spirit of God to
empower you to take charge of your
mind, replacing negative "what ifs"
with positive and uplifting thoughts
that will guide you towards success.

24
Even Esther in the Bible replaced
negative "what ifs" with positive
ones, enabling her to take bold
action and save the Jews. We can do
the same in our own lives.

So, replace negative "what ifs" with

positive ones. Instead of "what if I
fail," think "what if I succeed?"
"What if it doesn't work out," think
"what if it works out" "what if I am
not picked," think what if I am
picked" Change the narrative in your
head and focus on positive
outcomes.

25
This mindset shift can help you
overcome fears, take risks, and
achieve your potential.
It takes thinking "what ifs" in the
positive to achieve impossible feats,
overcome limitations, break
boundaries, and see all things as
possible with your grace and gifts.

This thought pattern helps you live

an above-and-beyond life, cultivate
healthy and quality relationships,
unleash your inner power, and go far
with God.

While you may not be able to

prevent negative "what ifs" from
26
arising, you have the power to
prevent them from taking hold in
your mind.

Consciously choose to focus on

positive "what ifs" and make it a
habit. Replace negative thoughts
with positive ones, no matter the
situation. By doing so, you'll unlock
your potential and live a more
fulfilling life.

Remember, it's time to change the

song in your head and let positive
"what ifs" guide you towards success
and breakthroughs.

27
The power to transform your life
lies in your ability to silence
negative "what ifs" and embrace
positive ones.

By choosing to focus on positive

possibilities, you can overcome
fears, take risks, and achieve your
potential. Remember, your mind is a
powerful tool, and it's up to you to
decide what thoughts to entertain.

So, take control of your mind, guard

your heart, and let positive "what
ifs" guide you towards a life of
purpose, success, and fulfillment.

28
Go ahead, dream big, and watch your
life transform in amazing ways.
What's the impossible feat you'll
achieve by choosing positive 'what
ifs'?"

29
CHAPTER 5

AFFIRMATIONS
Some time ago, I watched a
documentary about a woman who,
led by the Spirit of God, held fast to
His Word and declared it over her
property, affirming it and speaking it
over her family.

A few months later, a hurricane hit

the area where she lived, destroying
properties in its path.

30
However, when it reached her
property, which was a large one with
horse stables and many other
structures, the hurricane
surprisingly passed over it, sparing
it from destruction.

Her property was exempt from the

devastation, a testament to the
power of faith and the Word of God.

Affirmations are crucial; use them

daily to your advantage. Make faith-
filled confessions, pronouncements,
and declarations to yourself, others
and all that pertains to you.

31
Most importantly, affirm positive or
Word inspired “what ifs" to yourself,
declaring, confessing, and
pronouncing them with conviction.

Don't just ponder; affirm and

declare, "I will succeed, I and all
connected to me are exempted from
the evil in the land, I will emerge, I
will break forth, it will work, I will be
picked."

Positive affirmations, filled with faith

and God's Word, must become your
habit to win, succeed, and break
through.

32
Affirmations are evidence of your
faith, so keep affirming positive
Word inspired "what ifs" and don't
stop.

Remember, prayer and fasting can

effect changes in the spirit realm, but
negative "what ifs" in your mind can
hinder alignment and manifestation.
Replace them with positive and
Word-based affirmations, fueling
your hope and strengthening your
resolve.

When you affirm positive and Word

inspired "what ifs," you give life to
your goals, inspire faith, and solidify
33
hope. Keep affirming, and don't let
negative thoughts hold you back.

Mastering the habit of affirming

faith-filled words, God's Word, to
yourself, family, others, business,
nation, and church, is crucial.

Every time you speak, release the

power of God's Word, activating
things around you. This engages
angels to minister to you, aligning
with their assignment, through the
words you speak.

34
I recall a personal experience at a
zoo where I hesitated to hold a snake
due to negative "what ifs."

However, I chose to trust the tour

guide's assurance, silenced the
negative thoughts, and affirmed the
positive "what if it doesn't bite me."

I held the snake, and it didn't harm

me. Anyways I had to drop after
holding it for quite sometime, so it
will not change it's mind, bite me,
and I will be told it's because of how
you held it.

35
However, having released it, I
learned a valuable lesson.

If God has spoken to you through His

Spirit or Word, but negative "what
ifs" try to hold you back, I urge you
to trust His guidance.

Receive His Word, take action, and

make moves on His instructions. God
is your life's tour guide; He means
what He says.

Silence negative thoughts, tune into

positive affirmations, and establish
God's truth in your life through
meditation and confession.
36
As Pastor Chris says, "God's Word is
truth, established in heaven, but it
becomes settled in your life through
your affirmations.

The way it works is this: you keep

the Word in your consciousness
through meditation, and then your
confession or proclamation
establishes it.

Words have creative energy, so use

faith-filled words to frame your
world, program your spirit for
success, victory, and ever-increasing
glory."
37
Keep affirming God's Word, don’t
stop, keep doing it and walk into
what God has already sorted out
for you.

Go ahead and begin to affirm Word

inspired declarations over your life,
loved ones, business, nation, and
more. For example:
• I can do all things through
Christ who strengthens me.

• I will succeed and triumph in

all aspects.
• I am healed and prosperous
in every way.

38
• It's possible, and I will
emerge victorious.

• I am blessed, favored, and

highly valued by God.

• My household and I are

exempt from diseases and
evil.

• All our needs are supplied

according to God's riches in
Christ Jesus.

• I will not be put to shame in

hard times; in famine, I will
be satisfied.

39
 • am super loved by God and
very special to Him.
Remember to personalize these
affirmations, repeat them daily, and
believe in their truth.

This will help you develop a habit of

affirming positive and Word inspired
declarations and experiencing their
transformative power in your life.

40
CHAPTER 6

GO FOR IT
The Nike slogan "Just Do It"
resonates with the idea of "Going for
it." Elite athletes like Michael Jordan
and Usain Bolt will attest that
achieving greatness requires
pushing past doubts and fears.

If they had listened to their bodies

and the voices of "what ifs," they
would have never reached their
exceptional heights.

41
Instead, they chose to go for it, and
their determination led to
remarkable achievements.

The voice of fear and doubt will

always scream "what if" in your
head, but don't let it hold you back.

Don't let it stop you from going for

that which you should go for that has
in it the potential to turn your life
around, take you to greater heights
and make something beautiful out of
your life.

42
So, go for your dreams,
relationships, exams, interviews,
contracts, projects, and visions.

The negative "what ifs" screaming

in your head have only one
mission: to stop you from going for
it.

It aims to prevent you from

achieving greatness and making a
positive impact on your life and
others.

To overcome this, you must silence

the lying voice, ignore it, and shut it
up by taking action and going for it.
43
I've faced similar experiences where
God presented me with
opportunities, but the negative voice
of "what ifs" screamed loud, filling
me with doubts and fears.

In the past, I've listened to it and

regretted it, seeing others achieve
amazing outcomes, who silenced the
negative "what ifs," and kept going
for it.

But I made a conscious decision to

trust God's leading and prompting,
and to go for every opportunity that

44
aligns with His plan, regardless of
the negative "what ifs" in my head.

Many people are stuck in regret

because they let "what ifs" in the
negative hold them back. Don't let
that be you.

I remember an engagement where I

was the main speaker, and despite
never having been in that
environment before, I was
determined to go for it.

The publicity had already gone out,

but the issue of banditry and other

45
negative thoughts screamed in my
head, trying to deter me.

However, I chose to ignore the voice

of "what ifs" and went for it. Guess
what? None of the negative thoughts
happened!

The meeting was a huge success,

with a great impact and monetary
reward. If I had let the negative voice
hold me back, I would have missed
out on the joy and reward.

As you read this, there may be

something God is leading you to go

46
for, but the voice of "what ifs" is
screaming in your head.

I want you to know that it's a lying

voice. Ignore it and GO FOR IT!!!
Trust God's leading and go for that
which has the potential to turn your
life and others around. GO FOR IT!

Here are brief stories of successful

individuals who overcame "what ifs"
and achieved greatness:

• Oprah Winfrey: Rejected as

a TV anchor, she was told she
was "unfit for TV." But she
didn't let that stop her. She
47
 went on to become a media
mogul, actress, talk show
host, and philanthropist.
• J.K. Rowling: A single mother
living on welfare, she was
told her writing was
"unmarketable." But she
persisted, and her Harry
Potter series became a global
phenomenon.

• Stephen King: Rejected 30

times, he was told his writing
was "too violent." But he kept
writing, and his books
became classics in the horror
genre.

48
 • Michael Jordan: Cut from his
high school basketball team,
he was told he was "too
short." But he worked hard,
and became one of the
greatest basketball players of
all time.

• Walt Disney: Fired from a

newspaper job for "lacking
creativity," he went on to
create the Disney empire,
including beloved films and
theme parks.

These stories illustrate that even in

the face of the negative "what ifs"
rejection and doubt, going for it and

49
persevering can lead to remarkable
success.

For instance, David had every reason

to hesitate when faced with the
opportunity to confront Goliath, but
he chose to ignore the negative voice
of "what if" and seized the chance.

That decision changed the trajectory

of his life and his lineage forever, as
well as that of the people of Israel.

Similarly, Esther disregarded the

fearful "what ifs" and approached
the king to plead for her people's
deliverance, risking her own life. Her
50
courage earned her the king's favor,
and her people were saved.

Don't let the lying voice of negative

"what ifs" hold you back. GO FOR
IT!

51
CHAPTER 7

FAILING DOESN'T KILL.

No one has ever died solely because
of failure. If people give up or take
their own lives due to failure, it's a
choice, not a direct result of failing.

The truth remains: failing doesn't

kill. I'm a testament to this fact,
having experienced numerous
failures and setbacks.

52
Yet, I've learned to keep moving
forward, embracing John Maxwell's
concept of "failing forward."

Failing doesn't kill, so don't let the

negative voice in your head hold you
back with fears of failure when
you're about to attempt something
you believe is right and led by God to
do.

Remember, every successful

person has experienced failure at
some point, but none have died
from it. Instead, they've grown
wiser and stronger from their
mistakes or failures.

53
Understanding that failure doesn't
kill empowers you to silence the
"what if" voice and guard your heart
with the knowledge that failing
provides an opportunity to learn and
improve.

So, even if you fail, you'll have the

chance to learn and do better. Don't
let fear hold you back.

Failing is not the opposite of

success, in truth, it is a part of
success.

54
Go ahead, try, attempt, launch out,
and start, knowing that failure is not
the end. It's a stepping stone to
learning and growth.

The fact that you fail, won't kill you,

but provide an opportunity or a
platform for you to learn something
new, better, and possibly a different
way or approach to do what you
should do.

Successful individuals don't fear

failure; they focus on taking action,
regardless of the outcome. Thomas
Edison, the inventor of the light bulb,
is a prime example.

55
He reportedly failed around 10,000
times before achieving success.
When asked about his failures, he
said he didn't fail 10,000 times, but
rather learned 10,000 times how the
light bulb wouldn't work.

His perseverance led to a

groundbreaking invention, and he's
celebrated globally for his
achievement.

Many successful people have faced

numerous failures before achieving
their goals. None of them died from

56
failure, but instead, learned and
eventually succeeded.
You are a success, regardless of
your failures. Embrace this
mindset and remember: failing
doesn't kill; it provides an
opportunity to learn and do better.
So go ahead, take the leap, and try
again.

57
FORTIFIED-HILARY OKOEGUALE is a rising
voice and exceptional communicator of
God's word, a prolific writer, and graced for
impactful speaking, teaching, and
preaching. His literary contributions
include esteemed titles such as;

The Polished Youth,11 11 Live and Run with

11

a Vision, "Breaking the Cycle," and "The

Gratitude Effect," among others.

Driven by a passionate vision for youth

empowerment, Fortified-Hilary tirelessly
convenes sensitization and intervention
campaigns, conferences, and seminars
tailored to inspire and equip teens, youth,
and young adults. Through his
organization, Leading Youth to Life
Initiative, he strives to transform the next
generation.

Fortified-Hilary and his wife, lfy, are proud

parents of a remarkable young son, Judah.
The family currently resides in Nigeria.