We all can think of at least one instance in our lives when we have allowed the fear of failure to prevent us from attempting something, or pursuing a goal or dream. Some of us can think of many, many such instances. Well, let's try to stop that fear in its tracks, starting today!
Remember back in your first year of college? When you never quite built the courage up to ask that super smart, super cute girl in the third row out for a drink? Or, that time you just happened to miss the deadline to apply for that senior position at work? Yea, the one that you were more than qualified for, that all your co-workers agreed you'd be great at, but every time you thought of the interview process it completely scared you.
I could give many more examples, but I bet you that no matter the scenario, every, single time that you have neglected to do something because of a fear of failure, you also regretted not at least trying, and you have beat yourself up about what "could have happened..." for some time after. I would even dare to say that some of you are still beating yourselves up about things that you shied away from doing, simply because you were fearful.
Stop to consider this: When you don't attempt something because of your fear of failure, you've already failed. The minute that you decided that you aren't even going to try, well already you've failed. Wouldn't it be better to at least make the attempt? Whether we are talking about your career, your love life, your family dynamic, a hobby...whatever! When you don't even try, you've failed already.
On the other hand, when you make an attempt, one of two things happens:
- You try, you're successful, yay!
- You try, it doesn't quite work out, but you can examine the process and the situation to find out where things went wrong, and use that information to improve the next time around.
I don't know how you see it, but for me, neither of those possibilities is an outright failure.
Not doing anything at all though? That guarantees only one result: Nothing. This post is entitled, "Fear Breeds Failure." But, does it really have to? Of course not! Use your fear of failure to propel you forward, not hold you back. Perhaps look at it this way:
Forget Everything And Run?
Or, Face Everything And Rise? The choice is yours!
