The One Fear That's Holding You Back—and How to Face It

It’s ingrained in our heads from a young age that in order to excel we must make all "A's" and that "F" for “failing” is not only frowned upon, it’s feared. As adults, we need to remind ourselves that failure is not a forever thing, and in fact, we can even learn from it—like how Oprah persevered when she was fired from being a TV reporter and Marilyn Monroe stuck it out as an actress even though agents said she’d make a better secretary (as if).

According to Inc. editor Erik Sherman, there are many different ways we can learn to embrace this fear and then all-out conquer it to become our most successful selves yet. Here’s how:

Face reality.

During hard times, we may want to live in a fantasy world to avoid our problems, but sometimes it's necessary for us to just rip the Band-Aid off. Is there a problem with our plan? We need to acknowledge it by facing it head-on. “There is a difference between determination and foolhardiness,” Sherman says.

Put failure into perspective.

Nothing in life is black or white, and the same can be said for failure. Some people think it’s an all-or-nothing thing, when the truth is that a few small disappointments along the way doesn’t mean you won’t meet your end goal. Coming to terms with the fact that you may fail will get you far. 

Enjoy the process.

Too often we say, “I’ll be happy when…” By living in the moment, we realize that every error we may make only makes us stronger individuals. “Failing, getting up, and starting again are part of the process of living,” Sherman says. “Be glad that you have the opportunity to fail and rise when it’s there.”

To see more ways you can face your fear of failure, visit Inc.

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