FEAR OF FAILURE

I often find that one of the most powerful questions for my clients, especially as we are just starting out, is what is your tolerance for failure?  Many have an immediate physical reaction- a pull back, a scrunched face, a crossing of arms across their body.  Protection mode.  How dare I bring up failure?  This immediate reaction is often followed by a giggle and an acknowledgement- not very high. 

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The truth is that many of us have been taught not to fail.  That failure is bad. 

 

Shameful. 

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Yet thinking this way stops so many of us from taking any action at all.  Instead of following our dream, taking the leap or diving in on a challenging project, we chose to live in our safe little bubble where we won’t have to experience the shame or humiliation of what if. 

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Our fear of failure keeps us small.  Scared.  Immobile.  What if instead of viewing failure as something shameful to be avoided at all costs, we started viewing failure as a chance to learn and grow?  What if we collected our failures like treasure, knowing that each was an important step toward the life we wanted?

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Think back on a failure you’ve had.  Sit with the discomfort for a minute.  Just let it be there.  Then push yourself to identify the growth, the good, that came from that failure.  Did it cause you to approach a situation differently, learn a new skill, deepen a relationship, strengthen your resolve?

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What are you hesitating to take action on today because of the fear of failing?  I challenge you to make your move.  To honor your courage.  To grow.  To build your self-confidence (that knowledge that even if there is a failure, you are enough).  Because the only true failure is snuffing out your light and potential without having ever learned what you were truly capable of.