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Overcoming the Fear of Failure: Steps Toward a Growth Mindset

Hey! How are you? Have you ever been in a situation where you feel stagnant?. Well a study has shown that the solution to stagnation, is a growth mindset. Failure triggers fear, and often brings the feeling of inadequacy into your heart. It could paralyze your decision making ability, prevent risk taking, and supresses your potential. But you know something... What if failure wasn`t something to be afraid of? What if failure was an opportunity? What if it was required so you can become successful? The power is in your perspective. Overcoming the fear of failure is about shifting your perspective, and embracing your own growth mindset. 

Let`s dive in!

Why do we fear failure? 

The fear of failure, known as “atychiphobia,” is a natural but inspired response, that is most likely rooted from childhood experiences, societal expectations, or personal setbacks. It`s the anxiety that you won`t meet your expectation, or the expectations that society has set for you. While it`s natural to be afraid of failure, letting this fear dictate your actions could drastically limit your potential, holding you back from growth and improvement. 

In my very own opinion, failure shouldn`t be considered as drifting away from success, it should be know that failure is part of success. ~Thomas Eddison, failed about 1000-10,000 times before creating the light bulb we used today~ Amongst all he`s attempts, he`s failure wasn`t recorded. Growth comes from success and failure. It`s the consistent trial and error phases that accounts for success.

Steps to overcome the fear of failure

  1. Redefine failure: The singular point in which you define failure as a teacher, your mindset changes. Stop envisioning failure as the worst that can happen, see it as something you can learn from.
  2.  Shift to a growth mindset: A growth mindset envelopes the idea that progress can be made through effort and persistence. This differentiates this from a fixed mindset, which entails skills development to be static. Challenge yourself to see obstacles as opportunities to grow.
  3. Set realistic goals: Break your objectives into smaller, and easily achievable tasks. Large and unrealistic goals can heighten the fear of failure, while small, manageable goals  could be easily achieved overtime.
  4.  Embrace risk and discomfort: Frankly saying, growth lies outside your comfort zone. Take small but calculated risks and allow yourself to feel discomfort. Overtime you`ll build tolerance for uncertainty and cultivate persistence.
  5.  Learn from others failures: Find role models who would guide you on your journey. Their stories should inspire you to view failure as a universal and surmountable experience.
  6.  Prepare for setbacks: Anticipate and expect potential challenges, and pre-define how you`ll respond and react to those challenges. This reduces fear of the unknown and empowers you to face difficulties with confidence.
  7.  Celebrate effort over outcome: Focus on the effort you put in, regardless on the result. Celebrating your perseverance and dedication helps reframe failure as part of the process.
  8.  Refrain from negative thoughts: When your struggling with inner cynicism, challenge your inner critic. Replace "I`ll never succeed" with "I`ll give it my best shot and learn from the outcome"

Wrapping Up

Overcoming the fear of failure is a journey, not a one-time fix. By adopting a growth mindset, reframing your definition of failure, and taking small steps forward, you can transform fear into fuel for success. Remember, every failure is a lesson in disguise, and the courage to try is the true measure of success.

~Don’t let the fear of failure stop you from playing the game. Failure is a stepping stone, not a wall. Embrace it, learn from it, and grow beyond it.~