The fear of failure is the root cause of endless problems. The fear of failure in relationships, finance, career and life, in general, makes a person mentally handicap. Unless you overcome fear of failure, you’re leading an incomplete life.
The fear of failure has a scientific name – Atychiphobia.
A human, as newborn, doesn’t have the fear of failure. It seeps into our consciousness as we become adults. As such, we impose self-limitation and remain dissatisfied.
Do you need to Overcome Fear of Failure?
Before you read further, find out whether you’re suffering from the fear of failure. You have the fear of failure if:
- you’re disinclined to accept or initiate challenging work that tests your abilities;
- you’re reluctant to try new things
- you’re always negating yourself with statements like “I am not good for….” or “I don’t think I can do this” and so on;
- you’re suffering from low self-confidence or low self-esteem;
- you’re self-sabotaging yourself through excessive anxiety or feeling of procrastination that render you incapable of following through goals;
- you’re averse to risk taking; this happens when you’re only interested in trying those things that you’re sure of completing successfully and perfectly.
If any of these ring true to you, read on.
In this article, I suggest 6 ways to overcome fear of failure. They will be tough to implement but don’t give up.
1) The Root Cause of Failure
Where does the root cause of failure lie? What is holding you back? Are the reasons something that happened in the past? F. Scott Fitzgerald said, “Never confuse a single defeat with a final defeat.”
If you’re rejected once, it doesn’t mean a rejection the second time. Similarly, if you’re unable to act of a situation, sit back and think about the source of failure.
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Often, our mind creates the illusion of fear as a result of what we think.
2) Simplify the Problem
Problems have the tendency to overwhelm us. Our wayward thoughts tend to blow a situation or problem out of proportion and before we realise, a simple enough issue seems too complicated for us.
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As such, the best way is to go back to the problem and understand it objectively, without getting emotional. Problems gain clarity.
3) Embrace Failure
Failure is inevitable if you wish to lead a remarkable life. Learn to embrace failure. Every venture or action of yours won’t be always successful but let that not stop you from trying.
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Never succumb to the fear of failure thinking there is an easy way out. There is none and the sooner you accept it, the better you life turns out to be.
I know that failure can be frustrating, overwhelming and humiliating but once it is embraced, things become easy.
4) Shift your Thinking
William D. Brown once said, ”Failure is an event, never a person.” Failure may feel permanent but it isn’t so. We know this instinctively but when one failure mounds upon another, we stop thinking. Rather, we convince ourselves that failure is permanent and there is no solution.
Failures teach is most of the important lessons of life. It’s often said that to experience success, you need to fail.
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Of course, in our human life, we find it difficult to accept failure but failure doesn’t mean defeat. Defeat is when you stop trying but failure gives you another reason to try harder. Which reason would you choose? Shift your perspective.
5) Rule the Mind
You should rule the mind and not otherwise. We react or behave in the way our mind conjures up thoughts. Our thoughts precipitate into action and the ensuing actions show results.
Now, to take the proper action, you need to channelize thoughts and thoughts channelization happen only when you are able to control your mind. It happens when you are consciously able to channelize thinking into proper order and not lose control.
Control your mind and its thoughts. Don’t let it rule you and run your life amok. Meditation is a recommended way to practice mind-thought control and overcome fear of failure.
6) Take Action
This is the most important way to overcome fear of failure. How can you know whether you have failed or not unless you take necessary action?
Let’s take a simple exam. Any student who is meritorious and hardworking experience anxiety and lack of confidence before the day of exam; therefore, should the student skip the exam?
Absolutely not! That would be the most idiotic thing to do.
In the same way, if career problems, financial burdens or deep relationship issues are worrying you, analyse the problem and take action. There is always a solution.
All you have to do is find the solution and implement it.
Endnote
It’s all too easy to use fear of failure as an excuse and choosing a risk-free and comfortable existence. But, is such a life fulfilling? I don’t think so.
So, tell yourself to overcome fear of failure and do things you always wanted to but never had the guts.
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