To choose which project to work on, prioritize the one that elicits the most fear or internal resistance, as this emotional intensity is a direct sign that the project is the most important for your personal growth.

noli's read

This perspective, which associates resistance with fear, aligns well with contemporary behavioral science. Observational work by psychologists Fuschia Sirois and Timothy Pychyl confirms that task avoidance is primarily a difficulty in emotional regulation when faced with doubt or anxiety, rather than a simple lack of discipline. Similarly, the self-determination theory of Richard Ryan and Edward Deci shows that overcoming demanding challenges fosters our sense of competence and fulfillment. However, the assertion that the scariest project is systematically the most important for our personal development remains a metaphorical intuition without direct empirical evidence. Excessive anxiety can sometimes signal a goal that is ill-suited to our current resources or in contradiction with our fundamental needs, risking burnout rather than growth. Fear is therefore a valuable indicator of emotional engagement, but it is best accompanied by a clear-eyed assessment of our actual needs.

the sources

No named source held this one up — that absence is part of the verdict.