Worst Part About Failure? The Fear of It....
Let’s be real—most people are more afraid of failing than they are of public speaking, heights, or that one drawer in the kitchen filled with random cords you can’t throw away. The thought of failing makes your palms sweat and your inner critic start a full-blown TED Talk on why you should just stay in your comfort zone forever.
But here’s the truth: failure isn’t the enemy—fear is. The more you let fear call the shots, the less likely you are to take the risks that could actually change your life. So, instead of letting failure intimidate you, let’s make it work for you. Because falling flat on your face? That’s just proof you’re in the game.
Here’s how to stop fearing failure and start embracing it like a boss (or at least like someone who isn’t paralyzed by the thought of looking silly).
1. Stop Treating Failure Like the End—It’s Just a Plot Twist
Nobody watches a movie where the hero succeeds in every single scene. Why? Because it would be boring (and completely unrealistic). Every great story has setbacks, and your journey is no different. Failure isn’t the end of the book—it’s just a plot twist that makes your eventual success even more satisfying.
Action Step: Instead of thinking, “What if I fail?” ask yourself, “What if this is just part of my success story?” Write down a “plot twist” moment you’ve already overcome—proof that you’re stronger than you think.
2. Fail Fast, Fail Often, Fail Forward
Perfectionism is just procrastination dressed in a fancy outfit. The sooner you fail, the sooner you learn, adjust, and try again. The people who win aren’t the ones who never fail—they’re the ones who fail faster and keep moving.
Action Step: Set a “fail goal” this week. Challenge yourself to try something new where there’s a chance of messing up (public speaking, a new business idea, making homemade bread that doesn’t double as a doorstop). Your goal? Learn something from the process, no matter the outcome.
3. Stop Letting Other People’s Opinions Dictate Your Moves
Guess what? People are way too busy worrying about themselves to be hyper-focused on you. And even if they are watching? So what? Failing in front of others doesn’t make you weak—it makes you courageous enough to show up.
Action Step: Next time you start fearing judgment, remind yourself: “Other people’s opinions don’t pay my bills.” Then, do the thing anyway.
4. Ask Yourself: What’s the Worst That Could Happen?
Your brain loves drama. It takes a small risk (launching a business, asking someone out, applying for a new job) and turns it into a full-scale disaster movie where you end up broke, alone, and living with 17 cats. But reality? Failure is rarely catastrophic. Most of the time, the worst that happens is a little discomfort and a lesson learned.
Action Step: Next time fear stops you, ask yourself: “What’s the worst that could happen? And if it does, will I still survive?” Spoiler: Yes, you will.
5. Start Collecting Your Wins (Even the Small Ones)
Fear of failure tricks you into forgetting how capable you actually are. So start keeping receipts. Every time you push past fear and try something new—whether you succeed or not—write it down. Keep a “Proof I’m a Badass” list that reminds you of all the times you survived, adapted, and thrived.
Action Step: Write down three things you’ve done in the past that scared you—but you did them anyway. Let that be your reminder that failure didn’t break you then, and it won’t break you now.
6. Love Yourself—Even When You Fail Spectacularly
At the end of the day, whether you win big or fail epically, you are still worthy. Your value isn’t measured by how perfect you are—it’s measured by your resilience, your willingness to try, and the way you treat yourself when things don’t go as planned.
So be kind to yourself. Celebrate your efforts. And remember—falling flat on your face isn't failure -growth comes from your failures and keep you moving forward.
Action Step: Look in the mirror and say, “I am proud of myself for showing up.” Because that’s what truly matters.
Final Thoughts
Failure is not the opposite of success—it’s a necessary part of it. Every time you fail, you’re just getting closer to where you want to be. So go ahead—fall, get up, laugh about it, and keep moving forward.
Now, tell me—what’s one thing you’ve been putting off because of fear?