How to overcome the fear of failure

Each of us is sometimes gripped by fear. Whether we are afraid that we will not be selected for the desired job, that we will not save enough money, that we will miss the project submission date, or perhaps we will hire an inadequate person. Sometimes we are afraid that we will disappoint someone, that we will overeat, that we will not succeed in losing weight, that we will forget about an important event, that we will fail an important exam for the second time, or, simply, that we will be late for the bus.

What exactly is the fear of failure?
Fear of failure can appear already in childhood. Namely, it is not easy to hear over and over again: "No! Don't do that! Do not touch!". Over time we begin to be considerate, cautious, and seek confirmation that what we are doing is right. During growing up, that negative attitude is anchored in our subconscious, somehow we forget about it and live the best we know how. But, from time to time it appears again and makes our everyday life miserable. However, your hands are not tied. Follow these steps and start moving closer to the positive results you desire.

1) Take action
Act decisively. Active action gives you the power to change your environment or situation. What would you do if you knew you were sure to succeed? What heights could you reach? Try it! If you fail, you are left with other options or a new attempt.

2) Don't take mistakes too personally
Failure is not related to your character traits. Even though you didn't get the result you wanted, it doesn't mean you're a loser. Getting it wrong doesn't mean you're incapable.

3) Persevere
Successful people don't give up. They try different approaches until they achieve the desired result. Unsuccessful people try once and if it doesn't work, they give up.

4) Don't be too hard on yourself
Hey, if nothing else, you know what you tried isn't working. Didn't you learn some important lessons from that?

5) Try different things
If what you started isn't working, change your approach. As an interesting saying goes: "If you always do what you’ve always done, you will always get what you’ve always got". If you're not getting the results you want, you need to do something different. Don't have only two options - if it works and if it doesn't work because if you don't try more than once, you've already failed. Be curious and explore different approaches to any challenge that comes your way.

6) Seek expert help
Regardless of where the root cause of your fear is, the advice of a professional will help you discover and overcome it. Overcoming fear is not so easy, but it is possible, especially if you are determined and ready to change. Likewise, there is no magic wand that will turn you into a fearless hero. It is a process and there are steps that can help you find your way out of the maze your subconscious has created.

Post by: Rinna James