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. “People are afraid of failure, and that’s why they very rarely take on something that is in their best interest or something that is their dream.” This isn’t some revolutionary, unheard-of revelation, right? We all know it to some extent.” Think about it. How many times have you had an idea, a goal, a little whisper of a dream, and then… crickets? 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. 

 

The effort made does not always lose value due to unforeseen circumstances

Yeah, everyone says it. You know, like when you finally show up to the movie, super late, mumbling, "Better late than never!" Or your buddy finally gets around to something, after forever, and is all, "Hey, better late than never, right?" It's just, like, a thing we say when stuff goes sideways. Whatever it's supposed to be about, it's, like, not giving up or something. And, you know, grabbing chances even when you’re super behind. It's just a saying, basically meaning it's cool to do something late instead of just, like, not doing it. A gentle nudge? Nah, it's just telling you to get it done, even if you blew the deadline or life happened. Anyway, picture this: you want to play guitar, right? But, like, whatever, life gets in the way. Work, family, all that jazz. Years go by, and you forget about it. Then, one day, you just, like, grab an old guitar. Sure, you'll probably think, "Man, I should've done the job sooner," but then you're just happy you actually did it. Is there a feeling of regret? Meh, it passes once you actually start fiddling around. This applies to, like, everything. Do you owe someone an apology? Been putting off that doctor's visit? Or, whatever, you had some grand plan for a business? The "better late than never" thing just means get off your butt and do it eventually. But, like, is it always true? Nah. Sometimes "never" is actually way better. Waiting too long renders your planned actions either futile or likely to cause chaos. Like, trying to bail on a hurricane when it's already trashed everything? Total nope. Or dumping cash into some stock that already crashed? May your money rest in peace. Therefore, it is important to consider the implications rather than merely expressing it repeatedly. Avoid using it as an excuse to consistently arrive late. To use it "responsibly," you must decide if it will worsen things or if doing it late is worth the trouble. Oh, and don't forget it's annoying for other people. While it is acceptable to submit work late on occasion, consistently doing so may lead others to perceive you as disorganized. Therefore, it is advisable to apologize and make a concerted effort to improve your time management in the future. So, just apologize and try to manage your time better next time. Maybe. So, yeah, this whole "better late than never" thing is supposed to get you off your couch and, like, go for stuff even if it's a bit late. It's about, uh, sticking with it. But, again, don't be a total idiot about it. Think about what happens if you wait forever and if you're going to tick anyone off. So next time you're like, "Nah, too late, whatever," just remember this stupid phrase. Maybe it will encourage you to finally take action. I mean, better to just try, right? Instead of sitting around forever going, "What if?"