10 Ways To Overcome The Fear of Failure
Have you ever wondered what are the best ways to overcome the fear of failure. We believe that failing at something is not a nice sensation, regardless of how many inspirational films you’ve seen on YouTube. One of, but not the most common anxieties is that of becoming a “failure.” Nobody like it, yet it is an unavoidable part of life.
However, there is a paradox: the more you dread failing, the more difficult it is to achieve. Even if you’re not the “aspirational” kind who aspires to reach the top of the corporate ladder, lack of confidence keeps you from living a fulfilled life. Here are the most effective strategies for overcoming your fear of failing, moving on, and being your best self. Follow PowerPAC plus to learn more!!!
What is the fear of failure?
The fear of failure, also known as atychiphobia, is the belief that you aren’t or won’t be “equipped for,” “capable of,” or “great enough” in the event that you disappoint yourself or family and friends. It’s not just the dread of performing a horrible job; it’s also a very low sense of self-worth linked to the end outcome.
Extreme tension when confronted with a challenge that is well out of their safe zone, something that needs effort and dedication, and a reluctance to address a problem or challenge are all examples of fear of failure.
The fear of failing is a syndrome that affects the majority of people. When used in moderation, however, it functions as a catalyst to help us stay focused and complete tasks more efficiently. When fear becomes intense and severe, on the other hand, it creates a significant barrier that prevents us from going toward personal growth, meeting new opportunities, and moving closer to our desired outcomes.
The “fear of task” and “fear of attempt” are two major implications of the fear of failure. This means that if something demands more effort, the person who is afraid of failure will most likely shut it down and flee rather than strive regardless of the outcome.
Some research have found a link between the sense of failure and the procrastination/perfectionism tendency. When people are terrified of failing, they have a “all or nothing” mentality, where they do their best or don’t do anything at all, and vice versa.
What causes the fear of failure?
Childhood parenting
Overly critical parents are the major cause of their children developing a subconscious dread of failing. When a youngster is exposed to extreme right/wrong or harsh parental reactions when they does anything “wrong,” they learn that failure is just the worst thing that can happen to them.
This dread will follow you into adulthood, producing a persistent desire for others’ approval when you do something, as well as an excessive anxiety of criticism or even useful advise.
Perfectionism
Perfectionists have a tendency to associate their self-worth with everything they do. They become excessively controlled, attempt to prevent all faults as much as possible, and become depressed if they aren’t “perfect” as expected if they have a flaw.
The ego-self
The lower-self, often known as the ego, is built on assumptions about “who I am.” This causes a person who is afraid of failure to feel genuinely saddened about their “identity” when they make a mistake, making it harder for them to appreciate other, more positive elements such as personal development, progress, and so on.
False self-consciousness
The media’s portrayal of successful people easily leads us to feel that you’re only worthy if you succeed. People with high self-esteem recognize that no one can be perfect at all they accomplish, and that a person’s worth is not only determined by the perfection of a particular achievement.
People who are afraid of failing try everything they can to avoid taking chances; they would rather stay in their comfort zone than try something new and accept the prospect of “not qualifying.”
How the fear of failure holds you back from success
In general, the fear of failure prevents you from going further on the path of growth in both career, self-worth and going against your moral compass. Things that your fear of failure is holding you back include:
Toxic pressure of success
Never before in history has the world been so fascinated with perfection as it is today, as numerous corporate organizations demonstrate. Employees are brainwashed into believing that success is only defined as a straight route with no setbacks or stumbling blocks.
Look over the more valuable chances
If some people fail to attain a complete solution due to the allure of a quick win, many more fail due to their ego-driven dedication to what worked in the past. This is common among senior workers, especially those who earned a reputation for themselves years ago by introducing a few key exchanges.
They shy away from further innovation, fearful that if they fail this time, it would tarnish the sheen they have built up around their brands as a result of previous triumphs. Furthermore, the accomplishment of something new may reveal that their previous accomplishments were not so outstanding in the end.
Why take the risk when you can maintain your popularity by not doing anything? Such people are so committed in their egoistic goals and the glory of their past that they prefer to set aside prospects for future opportunities for progress over the risk of failing.
Highly successful people and the fear of losing
The paradox is that the more successful people are, the more fearful of failure they are. As people achieve more, they grow more attached to their accomplishments and perceive them as their purpose for being. This is why, after bankruptcy, so many entrepreneurs choose to terminate their lives rather than confront their own failure.
A successful person’s “identity” is built on their accomplishments. Consider football players, basketball players, scientists, and so on. Others just know (and care) about their accomplishments or inventions, but few realize that they, too, are human and have flaws.
As a result, failure is no longer an option for them. Perhaps they haven’t failed in any way, but they haven’t had any experience rising above it in whatever they’ve done. Failure transforms into the ideal nightmare: a terrifying horror they must avoid at all costs.
The greatest method to avoid failure is to stick to the things you know you can do well, labor until you’re exhausted, and employ every other tactic you can think of to avoid potential blunders.
Loss of Creativity
There are several examples, most involving artists such as painters, musicians, and writers. They do everything according to their own impulses and “voices” at first, without regard for others’ approval. Gradually, as their work became more well-known and well-liked, they became reliant on it, and they began to do everything according to “trend” rather than their own creativity and “soul.”
Everyone wants to be successful in their endeavors. The problem arises when you are afraid of failing, when you do not accept the inevitability of making mistakes, or when you do not see the importance of trial and error in identifying the best creative solution.
Other impacts of atychiphobia include:
Socializing, dealing with others, strangers, new advancement prospects, and other forms of avoidance arise from a deep fear of being humiliated or not performing well enough.
– Having a pessimistic view of themselves (low self-esteem)
- Lacking confidence in your own abilities
— A poor ability to bounce back from setbacks or setbacks
- Believing themselves to be powerless or incompetent
- Extremely nervous when confronted with unknown situations
- Emotional instability and inadequate stress management
— Procrastination, or the deliberate failure to put up sufficient effort in order to justify failure (self-sabotaging).
How to overcome
1. Searching for the root
The first step in resolving any issue is to identify the source of the issue. You should spend a lot of time dealing with your shadow by asking yourself: Which of the four causes of fear of failure above do you most identify with? Recognize that your fear is based on past incorrect notions that your subconscious self has created.
When you’ve figured out what’s causing your fear, attempt “personalizing” it. This allows you to detach yourself from the fear and not think of yourself as the fear, allowing you to examine the matter objectively.
2. What is failure, really?
Establishing a new perspective on failure is an important aspect of overcoming fear of failure. Instead of seeing “failure” as a “death sentence,” or as a sign that you’re useless if you don’t excel at anything, develop a healthy connection with oneself based on empathy.
When considering these presumed “failures,” change your perspective:
- Criticism is an opportunity for growth and learning.
- Every autumn teaches you a valuable lesson that no school can teach you. The more you fall, the harder and more experienced you will get, and you will perform better the next time.
- Challenges are opportunities to progress, not roadblocks to your achievement.
- This is a “typical” situation that everyone encounters. Failure is an ephemeral occurrence from which you can learn, not the end of your life.
3. Setting realistic goals
The “all or nothing” mentality may lead you to feel that it is a powerful motivation for getting things done and growing as a person. However, reality demonstrates that when you think that way, you virtually shoot yourself in the foot.
Forcing oneself to perfect everything the first time is not only a foolish and illusory aim, but it also puts you under a lot of stress. What good is it if you can do everything flawlessly if your life is full of worry, strain, and craziness?
“Fail early and fail quickly” is undoubtedly encouraged at Pixar. They encourage experimentation and innovation in order to be on the cutting edge of technology. Failure is a part of that mindset, but as long as they achieve their goal of delivering excellent stories, all obstacles are just opportunities to grow.
4. Practice positive thinking
It’s up to you to detect and recognize negative self-talk triggers[9]. Negative thoughts should be replaced with positive facts about yourself and your situation. You’ll be able to write fresh mental scripts that you may refer to when you’re feeling down. What you do is greatly influenced by the voice in your head.
It’s frightening to consider how powerful our “inner voice” may be in influencing our thoughts and actions. When you repeat negative thoughts to yourself often enough, they develop a “seed” in your subconscious mind that takes control of your life.
The emergence of productivity culture, as well as the dominance of social networks, has made us obsessed with our own success and standing in the eyes of others. Keep in mind, however, that even the most successful persons have many “failures.”
A newspaper editor once dismissed Walt Disney because he thought his work lacked imagination. Isn’t it incredible? Disney has been chastised for its lack of originality! We wouldn’t have the tremendous Walt Disney legacy we have today if Disney had quit up back then.
5. Be as well-prepared as possible
The “fear of uncertainty” is one of the “basic” human fears. This helped our forefathers avoid attackers, but it isn’t very effective for modern humans.
By imagining all conceivable scenarios and being well prepared for them, the goal here is not to fully erase this instinctual element of fear, but to not be misled and controlled by it.
When you’re offered a new, better employment or you’re unhappy at your existing career, the anxiety of trying out in a new atmosphere might make it difficult to make a decision. Consider the advantages and disadvantages, as well as potential successes and failures, before making such a life-changing decision. Knowing how things might turn out could assist you in getting unstuck.
6. Ask yourself: What’s the worst thing that can happen?
There are times when it feels as if the world is ending. But it isn’t because you will always have the option to take action. Things aren’t always as horrible as they appear, and we give them more weight than they deserve. Your failure, like everything else in life, isn’t permanent.
For instance, starting a new business will almost certainly be a learning experience. You’ll make decisions that don’t work out, but the discomfort is usually only temporary. You can switch up your strategy and bounce back. Even if the perceived failure resulted in the closure of that business, it is almost certainly the starting point for something new.
7. Hope for the best, prepare for the worst
Wise individuals take chances, but they do so with contingencies in place. You don’t want to look for answers once it’s too late. Preparation is the key to confidence. Make a clear strategy for the goal you want to attain, as well as the potential for failure and contingencies.
8. There’s always something for you to learn
“Sometimes you win, sometimes you learn,” as the old adage goes. Things may not go as planned, but it does not mean you have failed. Something comes up that you can learn from. Even the worst-case scenario may present an excellent chance for growth and progress.
9. Build your self esteem
Successful people excel at what they do best, rather than trying to be perfect at everything. A football player may or may not be a better cook than you, and your favorite boss may or may not be able to sing as well as you. Focus on your strengths instead of your “deficiencies,” and address your weaknesses with patience.
10. Establish a Calm Body & Mind
Your body serves as a temple for your mind and spirit. To stay intellectually alert, use stress-reduction strategies, relaxation, and deep breathing, as well as a nutritious diet.
Conclusion
Failure to meet a goal can cause you to become disheartened and lose faith in yourself. What matters here is not to achieve the state of “don’t feel awful when you fail,” but rather to achieve the state of “you’ll get up regardless and keep trying.” You’ll eventually find the silver lining if you look hard enough. You can overcome your fear of failure if you understand that “failure” is an opportunity for growth rather than a death sentence.
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