Fear of Failure
When we’re uncomfortable with the idea of being successful, we’ll sabotage our efforts to the path of success.
That discomfort is the result of fear – specifically the fear of failure.
Fear of failure can alter every choice we make.
Sometimes this fear can be helpful as it can be use as motivation to do our best work.
However, most of the time, we are influenced by this fear in a negative way more than a positive way.
We often change our plans altogether and find an alternative that feels safer.
This is a sure way to limit our success, and thus experiencing the feelings of regret.
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Understand that failure is part of the process
Failure is only a temporary condition.
A single failure isn’t a permanent condition.
Failure is like a rainy day – sunny days always show up again.
Sometimes we get lucky, and able to figure out the right way to do something with our first effort.
But, most of the time, we don’t.
Thus, it’s important to realize that if we want to accomplish anything significant, we have to expect failures to be part of the process.
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Failure isn’t personal
Failing only means that our approach wasn’t the best option.
It doesn’t say anything about us as a person.
Even the most talented people deal with failure on a regular basis.
A wrong choice isn’t indicative of a fatal flaw.
View failure as an opportunity to learn.
Failure might provide a small sting, but the information you gain is invaluable.
A few, small improvements are often enough to turn a failure into a success.
Look for the lesson and apply it to your next attempt.
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Learn to enjoy fear
If our life isn’t in danger, being afraid is a sign that we’re doing something new.
Only new behaviors can change our life.
No one wants to live the same day repeatedly.
That uncomfortable feeling is a sign that something amazing might happen.
The people that are most afraid tend to be the most paralyzed.
We weren’t born afraid of the things that we fear today.
But by giving in to fear, we teach our brain that fear is an effective way to control our behavior, and It will continue ratcheting up the fear because it knows it works.
To minimize fear, we must take more actions.
Ignoring fear and taking action has the opposite effect.
We can teach ourselves that fear doesn’t impact our behavior, and In time, the amount of fear we feel will decrease.
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Looking Ahead
If we continue to allow fear to dictate our behavior, what will our life look like in 20 years?
How would our life be different if fear didn’t control our actions?
Would we rather be a little uncomfortable now or be filled with regret for the rest of our life?
Remember that the fear is self-created – we can always choose to have an attitude that supports our success.