Fear of failure is an Obstacle to Pursuing Goals

I recently was browsing through my book titled “The Wealth in the Great Kingdom” (an exceptionally engaging read, by the way!). and decided to analyze the quote. We all know it to some extent.” Think about it. Not because you didn’t want it, but because the “what if” monster has reared its ugly head? What if I try to start a side business and no one buys anything? What if the office mocks my request for a promotion? What if I enroll in that art class and my drawing resembles a toddler’s scribble? What if I start this blog (meta, I know!) and no one reads it? This fear of failure is more than just a bothersome voice; it truly stifles our potential. It stops us from even trying to do things that are explicitly good for us or deeply rooted in our hearts. And here’s the thing: It’s not just about grand, life-changing dreams. It’s also about the smaller, everyday things that could make a big difference in our lives. Asking for help, setting boundaries, taking a different route to work, trying a new recipe, and learning a new skill can all make a significant difference in our lives. These are all things that could be “in our favor,” but the fear of messing things up, looking stupid, or “wasting” time can hold us back. So what’s going on here? We’re so terrified of a bad outcome that we completely shut out the possibility of a good one. To avoid the risk of tripping, we’re staying put, even if it’s not where we want to be. But here’s a little secret: Everyone fails. Seriously. Every successful person you admire has a graveyard of failed attempts behind them. The difference? They didn’t let those failures define them or stop them from taking the next step. They learned, they changed, and they kept going. What actions can we take to overcome this? Reframe failure: Rather than viewing it as a catastrophic event, view it as a valuable piece of information. “Okay, that didn’t work. Why? What can I do differently next time?” This isn’t a stop sign; it’s a workaround. Start small. Do you have a big dream? Break it down into the smallest, most doable first step. Don’t want to fail while writing a novel? Just write one sentence today. Don’t want to fail your presentation? Just make a plan on the first slide. Embrace imperfection: “It’s better to be done than perfect” is a mantra for a reason. Go out there, try, stumble, and learn. It’s all part of the process. Think about the cost of not trying: What’s worse than failure? Imagine looking back years later and wondering "what if" you had just taken that step. Regret is often much more painful than a wrong step. This line from “The Wealth in the Great Kingdom” isn’t just an observation; it’s a challenge. It’s a call to look at what we’re hiding from ourselves because of fear, which is often much scarier in our heads than it really is. What is one thing you’ve been putting off because of fear of failure? Maybe today is the day to take just one small step in that direction. Even if it feels like a stumble, it’s still a step forward. What are your thoughts on this? Let me know in the comments below! Let’s overcome these fears together. 

Author: Sezgin Ismailov