This blog post will explain how fear of failure increases the risk and chances if Failure.
For most of us, failure is the most entrenched fear fathomable a sentiment that fills the stomach with nothing but anxiety and tend to incite hesitation. But did you also know that the same fear, usually considered as a preventative measure, may in fact bolster the odds for failure itself? Applying the framework of fear to our actions and hence, our results is enlightening.
Fear, bottom line, is a basic and primal feeling that kept our ancestors from getting ingested by predators. In ancient times, fear often saved our ancestors from physical risks. But in today's world, the threats are more of mental and emotional. This can be especially true in the case of a fear of failure as it aligns to personal and professional risks which can go beyond just being linked to identity, but also reputation and self-worth.
However, while fear can inspire action in many cases, usually the fear of failure does the complete opposite. Instead of motivating our progression, it triggers a total regression. It keeps us in the safe zone, prevents us from taking risks, and also stops us out from opportunities where there are changes of getting fail. And that's the rub.
One thing is for sure, avoiding the failure does not necessarily mean success. If you are so focused on avoiding failure, you may overlook the action which then we can take that will result in success. This is how fear makes the likelihood of failure more than when it does not appear:
Less Opportunities: Fear will limit you to how many chances youre willing to take. This unbalanced life (prioritizing safety over growth) will stagnate learning and personal development. It might be reassuring to over look challenges, yet it also garentees dullness. Over time, it increases in fewer accomplishments and missed opportunities.
Killing Innovation: Many times, success involves creativity, innovation and daring to walk in the unknown. You are less likely to attempt something new, be courageous, or take risks because you are afraid of failure. You play it safe with what you know works, however in doing so you constraint your ability to learn and change in a fast moving world.
Paralysis by Analysis: This is when You are Scared of, So You keep Overthinking. Instead of behaving, you sit and analyze each scenario and all the errors in them. That delay is a failure. It can cost you time, energy and potentially opportunities wasted for not going there with the confidence required.
Fears Incurred: It can be extremely self-fulfilling once the fear of failure enters your mind. And when all your energy is focused on not failing, you end up unconsciously causing the very thing you want so desperately to avoid. Your fear-soaked mind generates reasons for remaining small, and then you get the results of that diminished thinking.
Having to carry the burden of fear of failure may harm mental health. This creates anxiety, stress and may even eventually end up developing into depression. By not placing your fear behind you, it can ultimately wear away at your integrity and confidence that leads to a negative compounding effect where you feel stuck for days or weeks in inaction, full of worry and resentment. A catch-22 that reinforces itself with time.
In addition, this fearful mentality will not only hold you trapped to your work but can also transcend into personal relationships and those life decision we all face. No risk may mean that you miss out on experiences, growth, and ultimately not living at all.
How on earth do you move out of that space? It is in making a shift from the avoidance of failure reputation to the embrace and its an inherent part of growth.
Teach yourself that failure is feedback: One of the best ways to overcome this and perceiving failure as being a reflection on you not only help remove the fear or failing but make it so it no longer sets you back. It is only when you fail that you are actually learning something useful. It teaches you what not to do and helps in iterating, coming back stronger.
Grow It, Not Perfect It: The fear of failure is usually driven by perfectionism. Getting out of needing to be perfect atleast and getting into a mindset of progress is essential if you want to feel less overwhelmed by challenges and perceived screw-ups along the way. It's less about trying to do it right the first time and more about progress over perfection.
Acknowledging Small Wins: You must also remember that overcoming the fear of failure does not mean taking colossal steps all the time. It is about acknowledging and celebrating the little milestones on your path. Recognizing these small wins can stir confidence and make failure less intimidating.
Act in Spite of Fear: You do not wake up one day and your fear is completely gone. But taking action in the face of fear is key. Every time you want to take a step back or hide, but instead push forward and do whatever it is you need to do even though it scares the hell out of you, you become a little more resilient. The more you practice this, the easier it is to confront of fear head-on, and the control that fear has on you begins to fall away.
Think of some of the most successful people on the planet. Most of them have actually failed numerous times before finally rising to the top.
For instance:
Thomas Edison, 'I have not failed. I have only discovered 10,000 ways that won't work. After a few hundred failures, It was that persistence drive which finally produced the lightbulb.
J.K. Rowling, creator of Harry Potter, got turned down to a many publishers before exploding in publication circuits. If she had allowed her fear of failure to keep her from trying, the world may have been deprived of her books.
Steve Jobs who was fired from Apple founded NeXT and then Pixar before eventually returning to the firm to turn it into a global success story. His career epitomizes how adversity can set the stage for future success.
Each of these stories is a reminder that failure is never the final act. Instead, it is often the fastest way to a bigger thing.
So here it goes, the fear of failure can be perceived as your shield to prevent heartache. But in nature, it really is a bazooka to help keep you against your own whole possibilities. Once you know that failure is a natural part of the learning process, and you feel more comfortable stepping outside your comfort zone to take a risk.
Do not let fear of failure deter you. You succeed when you move away from seeking to avoid failure and start wanting to develop. So remember, there is no such thing as failure, except in the sense of never have tried!
Learn more about overcoming mental resistance and adapting to change by going to All in the Family Counselling. They are available to help individuals face these fears and re-build a healthier, pain-free life. Professional help may be the key to your dream job, personal growth, or relationship struggles.
