7 Simple Strategies To Overcome Fear Of Failure
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Introduction to Overcoming Fear of Failure
Let me guess. You’re reading this post because something you really want to do is scaring the heck out of you right now. The good news is that you’re not alone. In fact, as I write this, the fear of failure is ever-present in myself as well.
Any time we have a thought of leaving our comfort zone in any way, shape or form, a little fear begins to creep in.
I think back to when I left the only job I’ve ever known in 2021. When I drove an RV across the western United States having never driven one before. The time our family moved to a third world country for four months. Then, 6 weeks later moved to a state of which we knew all of 2 people.
Some people have an extreme fear of failure while others simply are able to do anything they desire without even a shred of fear.
In this post, I want to talk about fear and how we overcome it. In order for us to truly live worthy of the calling we have received, fear cannot be the ultimate decision-maker for us. Our goal is not to eliminate fear, but to harness it. Use it to advantage.
Let’s get started.
What is Fear and Why Do We Have It?
Fear is a fundamental survival mechanism deeply embedded in the human brain. Smithsonian Magazine mentions that fear triggers what is known as the “fight-or-flight” response, a physiological reaction designed to prepare the body to either confront or flee from a perceived threat.
This response begins in the amygdala, a small almond-shaped structure in the brain responsible for detecting danger.
When the amygdala senses a threat, it sends signals to the hypothalamus, which activates the autonomic nervous system, leading to a cascade of physical changes: the release of stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, increased heart rate, rapid breathing, and heightened alertness.
These changes prime the body for quick and decisive action.
So, when fear arises, it’s just our body doing its absolute best to protect us. The problem is that once fear begins to linger, we can quickly become incapacitated to act.
We literally become paralyzed by our fear. I think the best example of this is in the greatest baseball movie of all time, The Sandlot. You know that scene where Benny the Jet (even 90’s kid’s hero) is face-to-face with the Beast and he can’t move? This is what we’re talking about here.
Let’s dive into the impact that fear has on us psychologically.
The Psychological Impact
Fear of failure can cause a range of emotional responses, including anxiety and procrastination. Fear has a unique way of making us believe things about ourselves that have never once been true. For example, fear can lead to panic attacks when we’ve never even sniffed one before.
Further, our past failures quickly come to mind when we allow fear to overtake our minds.
In addition, fear can lead to the following shifts:
- Avoidance Behavior: where individuals steer clear of situations where they might not succeed. This anxiety often roots from the pressure of high expectations, either from oneself or others. The little voice in our own mind can sometimes be our biggest critic, feeding negative thoughts that erode our self-confidence.
- Negative Self-talk: where individuals convince themselves of their inadequacy. This cycle of negative thoughts can result in a fixed mindset, where one believes that abilities are static and unchangeable. Consequently, this mindset can hinder personal growth and lead to
- Low Self-esteem: where we convince ourselves that we are inadequate for, incapable of or unable to get past a particular circumstance or fear.
The Beauty of a Growth Mindset
On the contrary, adopting a growth mindset, as proposed by psychologist Carol Dweck, can help reframe failure as a natural part of life and a necessary step toward improvement.
This is the crux of where I want us to head in this post. The following items below can allow us to take our worst fears and reframe them to actually uncover our full potential.
- Failure as a Learning Opportunity: Individuals with a growth mindset view failures not as permanent setbacks but as valuable learning experiences. Each failure is seen as a stepping stone toward improvement and eventual success.
- Effort Over Inherent Ability: People with a growth mindset believe that abilities and intelligence can be developed through dedication and hard work. This perspective reduces the fear of failure since outcomes are based on effort, not fixed traits.
- Embracing Challenges: A growth mindset encourages embracing new challenges rather than avoiding them out of fear. Facing challenges is seen as an opportunity for growth, reducing the dread associated with potential failure.
- Resilience in the Face of Setbacks: A key aspect of the growth mindset is resilience. Setbacks are not final but are seen as part of the learning process, which makes individuals more likely to keep trying after experiencing failure.
- Positive Self-Talk: People with a growth mindset tend to use positive self-talk, which helps to overcome negative thoughts about failure. This mindset promotes a healthier, more constructive internal dialogue, making it easier to move past mistakes.
Fear And The Next Generation
According to Barna’s studies, nearly half (47%) of Gen Z (those aged 18-35) report being afraid to fail, a significant concern that impacts their mental and emotional well-being. This anxiety is often tied to their ambitions and the pressure they feel to succeed in life.
The research also highlights that while many young adults in this age group are driven and hope to achieve a lot, this drive can lead to a dichotomy where they feel either empowered or anxious.
Furthermore, the Barna report on “The Connected Generation” reveals that anxiety about important decisions, uncertainty about the future, and fear of failure are among the most commonly reported emotions among young adults globally.
This suggests that the fear of failure is not just a personal issue but a widespread phenomenon affecting many in this generation.
Fortunately, or unfortunately I guess, Gen Z’ers are not the only ones that have a fear of failing. As it turns out, almost everyone who starts something new has a fear of failing.
Think about the last time you attempted anything for the first time. There had to have been butterflies, anxious thoughts, or even a panic attack as we mentioned earlier. When we are afraid to fail, often we don’t even try.
When Overcoming Fear of Failure….Fails
The following is a list of what might happen if we allow our fear of failure to reign supreme in our lives rather than choosing to face it head on and risk failing.
- Missed Opportunities: The fear of failure often leads to avoiding new challenges.
- Low Self-Esteem and Confidence: Repeatedly avoiding challenges can reinforce a belief that we’re incapable of success.
- Procrastination and Inaction: Fear can paralyze decision-making, leading to procrastination or a complete lack of action.
- Increased Anxiety and Stress: Continuously fearing failure creates a state of heightened anxiety and stress.
- Stagnation and Lack of Growth: Without taking risks, we limit ourselves to our current skill set and knowledge.
- Regret and Unfulfillment: Over time, allowing fear to rule decisions can lead to feelings of regret for the opportunities not taken.
- Strained Relationships: Fear of failure can also impact relationships, as individuals may avoid social interactions or situations where they might be judged.
- Limited Innovation and Creativity: Fear stifles creativity because it discourages experimentation and taking risks.
When Overcoming Fear of Failure…Succeeds!
- Personal Growth and Learning: We gain valuable life lessons and experiences, allowing us to grow and improve our skills, resilience, and adaptability.
- Increased Confidence and Self-Esteem: Our confidence gets a boost. Successfully navigating challenges reinforces our belief in our abilities, promoting higher self-esteem.
- New Opportunities: You become more willing to take risks that can lead to success in your career, family, relationships and every other area of life.
- Greater Creativity and Innovation: Without the constraints of fear, we are more likely to experiment, think creatively, and innovate.
- Stronger Relationships: Being unafraid to make mistakes in social and professional environments leads to deeper connections and trust.
- Resilience and Perseverance: Learning to bounce back from setbacks creates mental toughness, making it easier to handle future challenges with perseverance and determination.
- Reduced Anxiety and Stress: The pressure to be perfect decreases. This mindset shift results in reduced anxiety, allowing for a more relaxed and balanced approach to challenges.
- Higher Achievement and Success: A willingness to fail and learn propels you toward higher levels of success and fulfillment in life.
Strategies for Overcoming Fear of Failure
Let’s face the cold hard truth. Fear is not something that we can ever “beat”. In fact, we don’t really want to. Fear is just the brain’s way of telling us “hold on a second and think this through”. It’s our choice to act, however. The brain just wants us to weigh the risk factors before making a decision.
That being said, what we we are desiring is to now allow the psychological to turn into the physical. What I mean is that we don’t want to allow the fear of failure to prevent us from trying new things or discovering new ways of doing things.
There are a variety of ways that we put our fear of failure in its proper place.
Let’s look at 7.
7 Tips For Overcoming the Fear of Failure
1. Understanding the Fear of Failure
The fear of failure is more than just anxiety over making mistakes; it’s a deeply ingrained psychological response that can profoundly impact decision-making and life choices. This fear often stems from a combination of factors, including the dread of negative judgment, fear of disappointing others, and the pressure to meet personal or societal expectations.
It can manifest in various ways, such as avoiding new challenges, procrastination, or experiencing intense anxiety in situations where success is uncertain.
When this fear dominates, it can lead to a cycle of avoidance and low self-esteem, where the individual becomes increasingly reluctant to take risks, ultimately limiting personal and professional growth. The psychological phenomenon of “catastrophizing,” where one envisions the worst possible outcome, often exacerbates this fear, making the prospect of failure seem more daunting than it actually is.
Don’t you just love the question, “What’s the worst that could happen”?
I tend to be on the more pessimistic side of things. While I rarely believe the worst will actually happen, I’m always aware of the possibility of it occurring. My “catastrophizing” of the situation leads to a deep fear of failure. Fortunately, redefining failure is the next step in our journey.
2. Redefining Failure
One effective way to overcome this fear is by redefining what failure means. Instead of seeing it as a negative outcome, consider it a learning experience. Failure teaches us valuable lessons and paves the way for improvement.
Thomas Edison, who had thousands of unsuccessful attempts before inventing the light bulb, famously said, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”
When I think back through all the perceived failures of my recent life, I can point to very specific knowledge and wisdom that was gleaned from each experience.
One particular example is when we ultimately decided to purchase a home 3 months after moving to Colorado. We had committed to renting for 1 year. However, when the opportunity presented itself, we jumped at the chance to be homeowners again.
​Long story short, we lost $70,000 with that one decision. Did we fail? Maybe to some. To us though? We discovered how to effectively move to another city and make smart decisions in the process.
**Caveat: I wish we would have learned that lesson a less expensive way. Oh well!**
3. Setting Realistic Goals
Setting achievable goals is crucial when trying to overcome the fear of failure. When goals are too ambitious, the risk of failure looms larger, making it more difficult to take the first step.
By breaking down objectives into smaller, manageable tasks, success becomes more likely, and confidence builds gradually. This approach allows one to celebrate small steps of progress, reinforcing positive thinking and reducing the fear of the worst-case scenario.
I love the idea of micro-goals for our macro-goals. Let’s use weight loss as an example. If you want to lose 50 pounds in one year, that’s pretty daunting. So rather than focusing on the 50 pounds you have to lose, focus on the one pound you have to lose this week.
Then, rather than focusing on the 49 pounds you have left, choose to focus on the 1 pound you have to lose that week.
4. Developing a Support System
Talking to friends, family members, mentors, or mental health professionals can provide substantial support. Sharing fears and challenges often alleviates the burden, and obtaining diverse perspectives can lead to new insights and solutions.
A supportive environment can be a critical factor in overcoming fears of failure, as it offers encouragement and reassurance during difficult times.
More often than not vocalizing your concerns and fears will lead to conversations by which you come to realize many people have faced similar circumstances to you. Beyond that, many people are currently facing similar circumstances. This will lead you towards the encouragement you need to keep pressing forward despite your fears.
5. Practicing Prayer and Mediation
​This probably should be the first item mentioned. Prayer and meditation are absolutely essential to fulfilling the adventures that God calls us to.
Almost every single time God calls us to do something, there is going to be fear involved. Whether it’s a move to a new city, a new job, a hard conversation or even just waking up a little earlier, trepidation will find its way into our souls.
Praying for peace, provision and wisdom will alleviate such fears. Meditating on scriptures allow us to firmly root ourselves in the truth of the word.
I have had so many instances where fear has prevented me from action. Then, through a simple prayer or bible verse, God swoops in with the courage needed to move forward.
6. Embracing a Growth Mindset
A growth mindset is the belief that abilities and intelligence can be developed through effort, learning, and persistence.
Unlike a fixed mindset, where failure is seen as a reflection of one’s inherent abilities, a growth mindset views failure as an opportunity to grow and improve. By embracing this mindset, you can reduce the fear of failure, as it shifts the focus from proving yourself to improving yourself.
This perspective helps individuals see challenges as opportunities to learn rather than threats to their self-worth. This approach encourages continuous personal development and resilience in the face of setbacks (Northwestern Medicine)
7. Taking Incremental Steps Toward Risk
Overcoming fear of failure can also be achieved by gradually exposing yourself to risks in a controlled way. This strategy involves starting with small, manageable challenges that push you slightly out of your comfort zone.
As you gain confidence and experience success with these smaller risks, you can incrementally increase the difficulty of the challenges you take on.
This method, known as exposure therapy in psychological terms, helps build resilience and reduces the intensity of the fear response over time.
By breaking down larger, intimidating goals into smaller, achievable steps, you can systematically conquer the fear of failure. (Northwestern Medicine)
What might this look like? Let’s consider an example of starting a blog! Go figure!
Rather than attempting to replace your W-2 salary with blogging income, some smaller risks might be waking up 30 minutes earlier to write.
Then, attempting to write one blog post per week. Then, one blog post and one social media post. These are minuscule risks because they don’t cost much money (or none) and they cost very little time.
Conclusion to Overcoming Fear of Failure
Overcoming the fear of failure requires a shift in mindset and the courage to face challenges head-on. By redefining failure, setting realistic goals, developing a strong support system, and practicing mindfulness, individuals can conquer this fear and unleash their true potential. Remember, the first step to success is often just a decision away. Are you ready to take that step and face your fears?
In your own life, consider how you can apply these strategies to overcome the fear of failure. Whether it’s taking on a new challenge, starting a new project, or simply trying something for the first time, remember that failure is a natural part of life and a valuable learning experience. By approaching challenges with the right mindset and a supportive environment, you can overcome even the most intense fear of failure and achieve your goals.
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About the Author
John Claborn
Hi! I’m John. Author of the post you just read. I like to write about all things adventure. Mostly things to help people live more adventurous lives and care for their families in a more meaningful way. By day, I’m a COO. By night, I’m a rad dad of 4 kids that I don’t deserve and a husband to a woman I can’t understand how I got. My goal is to show freedom to people through adventure and experiences.
