The Mindset Mentor Podcast with Rob Dial

Episode: Overcome Fear and Anxiety in 2026
Date: January 9, 2026
Host: Rob Dial

Episode Overview

In this episode, Rob Dial dives deep into the understanding and management of fear and anxiety as we head into 2026. Drawing on personal experience and psychological principles, Rob unpacks how our minds unconsciously create worst-case scenarios and provides a step-by-step guide for transforming fear and anxiety into excitement and effective action using practical reframing and visualization tools. The episode is focused on empowering listeners to take back control from their fears and anxieties to make 2026 their most successful year yet.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Nature of Fear and Anxiety

• Fear and anxiety as "sneaky thieves":

  • Rob describes fear and anxiety as forces that "convince you the worst case scenario is most likely going to happen." (03:10)
  • "Fear and anxiety only has the power that we give it." (03:38)

• Personal vulnerability:

  • Rob shares his experience of fear before his first solo flight: "I'm not immune to fear. I just noticed it and I was able to get myself out of it." (06:55)
  • His anxiety was rooted not in reality but in imagined worst-case scenarios, amplified by news and social media stories of plane crashes.

• Imagination's double-edged sword:

  • "You did not lose your imagination in your childhood...You're still imagining all the time...but most people are just imagining the worst case scenario all of the time." (10:22)
  • The brain often makes fears feel real by treating imagined dangers as present threats.

2. Projection and the Equal Reality of Possible Outcomes

• Rob explains that both positive and negative potential outcomes are equally real in our minds in the present moment.
  • "The possibility in the future of me having something go wrong...is equally as real as me taking off and having the best flight of my entire life." (05:40)
• Examples are given for relationships and starting a business, showing how people often project past failures into future fears.

3. The Reframing Process

Step-by-step approach:

Step 1: Notice the Fear

• "The moment that you feel anxiety creeping in, pause, stop for a second…What am I imagining right now?" (29:15)
• Become aware of the mental “movie” playing in your head—usually an unconscious visualization of failure or disaster.

Step 2: Challenge the Fear Story

• Ask yourself: "Is this the only possible outcome?" (32:02)
• Recognize it’s just one possibility among many.

Step 3: Create a Best-Case Scenario Movie

• "If you're going to imagine the worst that could happen, you need to also imagine the best that could happen." (33:39)
• Vividly imagine the most rewarding outcome, engage your senses, and step into that visual reality.

Step 4: Take Action Anyway

• Recognize that fear may linger, but it doesn’t have to dictate your actions.
  • "You don’t have to get rid of your fears in order to take action. You can take action in spite of your fears." (37:00)
• "Fear is just this paper tiger. It looks scary, but it has no real teeth." (38:58)

4. Visualization Techniques and Inspiration

• Rob describes using YouTube to watch positive examples of solo flights in his aircraft, the Cirrus SR22T, to fuel positive expectation. (17:42)

• Finds inspiration in the visualization routines of the Blue Angels, demonstrating the power of mental rehearsal even for elite performers. (19:10)

• "These are some of the most elite people at what they do…And they're visualizing what they want to happen before they go out." (19:45)

• Rob then practices visualizing his upcoming successful flight in intricate, step-by-step detail, including speaking out radio calls and feeling the process as if it’s real. (21:00)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "Our brain is making up a fear and we think that that fear is real." (05:54)
• "You still have that incredible imagination. It's just you're not using it anymore. It's using you." (10:59)
• "What you give your attention to is 100% something that you control." (25:25)
• "Your brain doesn't know the difference between your imagination and reality. It reacts the same to both." (26:17)
• "Your brain is literally running a worst case scenario simulation, and your body is reacting as if it’s actually happening in this moment." (27:52)
• "The secret to stopping fear is not about trying to conquer fear. It's about choosing what you give your attention to." (25:20)
• "The goal isn’t to eliminate fear completely…The goal is to make sure it doesn’t make your decisions for you." (37:35)

Important Timestamps

• 03:10 — Fear/anxiety as “sneaky thieves”
• 06:55 — Rob’s solo flight anxiety story
• 10:22 — Imagination and worst-case scenario visualizations
• 17:42 — Reframing focus: seeking positive solo flight stories
• 19:10-19:45 — Blue Angels mental visualization
• 21:00 — Rob’s detailed visualization practice
• 25:20 — Attention as your power
• 26:17 — Brain’s inability to distinguish between reality and imagination
• 29:15 — Step 1: Noticing fear and the mental movie
• 32:02 — Step 2: Challenging the fear story
• 33:39 — Step 3: Creating the best-case scenario
• 37:00 — Step 4: Taking action despite fear
• 38:58 — “Fear is just this paper tiger…”

Takeaway Strategies

• Notice and pause when fear arises—seek the mental movie behind the feeling.
• Consciously challenge and reframe your story; the worst case is not the only case.
• Use visualization not just to anticipate problems, but to energize yourself with best-case outcomes.
• Take action, even if fear remains—don’t let it run your life. Remember that “Fear only controls you if you let it.” (38:35)

Final Thoughts

Rob’s blend of story, evidence from top performers (like the Blue Angels), and a clear, actionable process makes this episode both practical and motivating. The core message is that mastering your mindset—and specifically, learning to manage and redirect fear and anxiety—can fundamentally change the trajectory of your life in 2026 and beyond.