One of the most common and top 10 fears that stop people from taking action is the fear of failure. It also causes people not to finish what they started. They use excuses like being busy or not having enough time, having other commitments to take care of or the lack of something.
People who are afraid to fail doubt and don't believe in themselves enough. They think that things won't work out, that they can't do it or they aren't good enough. They are afraid of being judged, criticized or humiliated by others. They are also scared of being rejected.
The fear of failure could have been caused by failing or being humiliated only once at something. But the pains that came with it were huge enough to leave a deep emotional scar. And whenever an opportunity appears, their minds will quickly remind them of the pains and that will stop them from trying.
One of the ways to overcome this fear is to look out for some role models of success. There are quite a number of famous people who failed not once or twice but many times before they finally attained success. Abraham Lincoln, Colonel Sanders of the famous Kentucky Fried Chicken and Michael Jordon are a few examples.
The other method in overcoming the fear of failure is to form a new self-image. Self image is the mental picture you hold of yourself. If you see yourself as a failure, that is how you will behave and act. Using visualization combined with positive affirmations are effective ways to improve on the image you have been holding on to but have held you back from personal growth and using your true potentials.
Two other tools that can help you change the way you think and belief about yourself are self hypnosis and subliminal messages. You might want to check out this words-and-image subliminal tool called the MindMaster, which you can try for free.
What if you were in a situation where someone you love deeply is in the brink of death or disaster and you could save her by doing one thing that you were afraid of? Would you do it? Most likely you would. You would overcome your fear of failure with self determination. What it takes is only a change of mind, a decision and a strong desire to act.
Most of the time, your reactions are the result of some deep seated emotions. These emotions can push you to action or stop you. Unless you release the emotions that are blocking, you will sabotage your own effort or won't open up your mind to welcome new ideas or opportunities.
Getting professional help is an option. Understanding your feelings, accepting them and then letting them go by forgiving yourself and the people who have hurt you will work. Using emotional freedom technique or the tapping solution is an effective tool to release emotional pains.
Writing is therapeutic and so are talk therapy and using other tools like neuro linguistic programming and past life regression. You have quite a number of options. The only question is whether you want to use any one of them.
Your thoughts are always scattered and unfocused. If something shows up, it will trigger your mind to automatically tell you how to feel or react based on the memories stored. Using the questioning technique is an effective way to destroy your limiting beliefs and fears.
The next time you feel afraid to do something, get a pen and piece of paper and start a session of question and answers. Ask questions like:
Those are some examples. To make it more effective, ask further questions when you get the answers to each one.
Isn't it such a waste of your life if you allow the fear of failure to stop you from getting what you want? Can you imagine what you could learn, experience and feel if you were to just do the things you were afraid of and succeed eventually?
Picture the consequences of drifting along in life, staying in your comfort zone, feeling frustrated but unable to change the situation. Not because you weren't given a chance. It's because you don't want to feel uncomfortable and face the possibility of getting hurt along the way
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