Have you ever been scared of not being successful at something that chose not to attempt it? Do you think fear of failure led you to you subconsciously undermined your efforts to prevent the risk of a bigger loss?
We’ve all been through this at one point or some other time. The fear of failure can make us feel ineffective and cause us to avoid action and, consequently, impede us from moving forward. However, if you allow your fear of failure to impede our progress forward throughout our lives, it’s bound to miss out on some fantastic opportunities on the way.
We’ll explore the fear of failing: what is it the root of it, and the best way to conquer it to achieve true success in your work and life.
Causes Of Fear Of Failure
To understand the root causes of the fear of failure, first we need to know the meaning of “failure” actually means.
We all have our own definitions of failure because we all have our own standards as well as values and convictions. Failure to one person could be a learning opportunity for another.
We all fear of failing at least at times. But fear of failing (also known as “atychiphobia”) is when we allow fear to hinder us from doing the actions that will propel us toward achieving our goals.
Fear of failure could be caused by a variety of factors. For instance, having harsh or unsupportive parents could be an issue for some. Because they were constantly abused or humiliated during childhood, they carry on those negative emotions into adulthood.
Experienced a traumatizing event at the time could also trigger. Consider, for instance, that you were required to present an important speech before an entire audience which you performed poor. It could have been so bad that you started to fear not being successful in other tasks. You carry that fear to this day, many years after the fact.
How You Experience Fear Of Failure
You could experience one, or even all of them, if fear failure:
- Reluctance to try new things or participate in projects that are challenging.
- Self-sabotage Examples include excessive anxiety Failure to meet goals.
- Self-esteem issues or self-confidence A lot of people make negative statements for example “I’ll never be good enough to get that promotion,” or “I’m not smart enough to get on that team.”
- Perfectionism A willingness to test only the things you know you’ll complete perfectly and with success.
The Definition Of Failure
It’s nearly impossible to endure the course of your life without encountering some form of failure. The people who do this probably are so cautious that they don’t even get anywhere. In essence it’s not real life in any way.
The great aspect of failing is that it’s totally up to us to choose what to do about it.
We may choose to view the failure of others in terms of “the end of the world,” or as an indication of how insignificant we really are. We can also consider failure as an wonderful learning experience it usually is. Each time we make a mistake at something, we may decide to focus on the lesson we’re supposed to learn. These lessons are crucial as they help us grow and prevent us from making the same mistake over and over again. The failures we make will only stop us when we let them.
It’s not difficult to find individuals who have been successful but who have had to endure failure. For instance:
- Michael Jordan is widely considered to be among the best basketball players ever. But Jordan was omitted from the basketball team at his high school team because the coach didn’t believe he was skilled enough.
- Warren Buffet, one of the world’s most wealthy and profitable businessmen was disqualified from Harvard University.
- Richard Branson, owner of the Virgin empire was a high school dropout.
We all slip and fall during our journey. Doors will be thrown on our heads and we may make a few bad choices. Imagine what would have happened if Michael Jordan had given up on his desire to play basketball after being removed out of the team. Imagine the scenario if Richard Branson had listened to those who said that he could never succeed without a high school degree.
Consider the opportunities that you’ll miss if you allow your failures to stop you from pursuing your dreams.
Failure can also reveal things regarding ourselves, which we not have otherwise learned. In particular, it can reveal how resilient an individual you are. A failure in something could help you find the truest people you know or provide you with an unexpected drive to achieve.
Sometimes, the most valuable insights emerge only after failure. Understanding and learning from the lessons learned is crucial to success in life.
How Not To Be Afraid Of Failure
It’s crucial to recognize that in all we do there’s always the possibility that we’ll fail. Being willing to accept that risk and accepting it isn’t just brave – it also leads to an easier, more fulfilling life.
But, here are a few suggestions to lessen the anxiety of failing
- Examine all possible outcomes Many people fear of failure due to their fear of the unknown. Eliminate that fear by weighing the possible outcomes of your choice. The article Decision Trees Learn how to visualize potential outcomes visually.
- Find ways to be more positive in your thinking Positive thinking can be an extremely powerful method to increase self-confidence and eliminate self-sabotage. This article Thought Awareness, Rational Thinking, and Positive Thinking This is a complete resource for finding out how to alter your mind.
- Take a look at the worst-case scenario In some instances the worst-case scenario could be truly disastrous and it’s completely rational to be afraid of failure. In other situations however, this scenario may not be all that bad. Recognizing this could be helpful.
- Have a contingency plan If you’re worried about not being successful at something you’re trying to master, making the “Plan B” in place will help to feel confident taking the next step.
How To Stop Living In Fear
If you’re scared of failing, you may be hesitant setting goals . However, goals can help us determine the direction we’d like to take in our lives. Without goals, there is no idea of where we are going.
Many experts suggest visualization It is a great tool to aid in as a powerful tool for goal setting. Imagine what life will be like when you’ve achieved your goal is an excellent incentive to keep moving towards your goal.
However, it is possible that visualization can cause the opposite effect in those who fear of failing. Research has shown that those who are afraid of being unsuccessful are usually in a very negative mood following being required to imagine goals and goal achievement.
What Else Can You Do? Take To Make It Better?
Begin by setting a few goals. Small goals . It is important to set goals that are slightly but not too much, demanding. Consider these objectives in terms of “early wins” that are intended to help you build your confidence.
If, for instance, you’ve been afraid to approach the department’s new boss (who is able to make the change you’ve been hoping for) Make that your primary goal. You can plan to visit her office in the coming month to meet her and introduce yourself.
Imagine that you’ve always wanted to go back to college to pursue your MBA and you’re worried that you’re not competent enough to get admitted into a business schools. Make it a point to speak with a counselor at school or an admissions officer to find out the requirements for admission.
Make your goals small steps in the way towards much larger goals. Do not focus on the big goal of getting promoted or completing an MBA. Concentrate your attention on what’s next, which is introduce yourself to the department head and addressing the admissions representative. That’s it.
A small step one at a time can help increase your confidence, propel you ahead, and keep you from getting overwhelmed by ideas of what you want to achieve.