The Psychological Fear of Failure
“We gain strength and courage and
confidence by each experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face
– we must do that which we think we cannot.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
In order to overcome the many failures I
have had to deal with, I decided to view them as learning curves, with the use
of the mantra “there is no failure, only feedback”, and I am now convinced that
with each failure comes wisdom and knowledge, coupled with the belief that what
you learn from failure is more beneficial than a success because it teaches you
something new, which another win could never teach you.
For many, however, fear of failure is a
very real fear, on a par with fear of criticism or fear of rejection. This
results in them never being able to achieve their true potential because they
are afraid to try, in case they fail. In
order to overcome this particular fear let’s examine it, which will make it easier
to navigate the destructive consequences it brings with it. This journey will
not be easy, however, it will enable you with perseverance to open that closed
door in your mind, taking you a step closer to freedom.
Ascertain when your fear of failure was formed
Ascertain when your fear of failure was formed
Perhaps you had overly protective parents
who never let you try anything new. In your mind they did this because they
wanted what was best for you, however, if you now look at the event as an
outsider, you will see that it had nothing to do with you, and everything to do
with them. This created a negative belief, which can have a big influence on
how you live your life.
Break complex matters down
Break complex matters down
Try doing something complex that you are
passionate about, and would not normally try because it is just too difficult
and you think you would fail. By breaking down this complex problem into manageable
pieces you will take the first steps towards succeeding. If one of these pieces
fails then it is easier to see why, learn from the experience and move on to
the next piece. Moving forward in this way you will see failing as a positive
experience, not a negative one.
Accept failure as a way to grow
Accept failure as a way to grow
Failure is always inevitable regardless of whom
you are, and if you sit on the fence looking for the easy option you may find
there just isn’t one. Embrace your fear, jump off that fence and know that with
each failure comes knowledge, strength and ultimately success.
Mind set
Mind set
Let “fear of failure” remain what it is; a
thought in your head, and when it bubbles to the surface, try to remember that
it has no place in reality and use it as a stepping stone on the pathway of
your life, always changing and never a permanent fixture. Free your mind by
meditating. By doing so, you will remove those fear founded thoughts which are
holding you back, alleviating negative
feelings associated with those thoughts, resulting in the belief that those
fears can be overcome.
Perspective
Perspective
Change your perspective and learn to grow.
Take every failure as a blessing and even though this can be difficult, it will
teach you to constantly improve and ultimately look at the negative periods as
times of learning.
We are all afraid of something, however, it
is not fear itself that will hold you back, but the decision you make because
of that fear. Imagine what your life would be like if all your fears controlled
it – take charge, and when you look back on your life do not let “fear of
failure” be something you have always regretted – the choice is yours.
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