07/13/2023
Fear of failure.
Fear of failure starts in early childhood. We are social animals and feel the need to be accepted by others, which begins with the acceptance and love of our parents.
In a study examining the relationship between young athletes and their parents, researchers found a correlation between the parents’ high expectations for achievement and the children’s fear of failure. The more the parents reacted negatively to what they perceived as a failure from their kid, the more the kid would fear the consequences of “failing.”
In some people, this can turn into atychiphobia, an irrational and paralyzing fear of failure, often accompanied by intense panic or anxiety and physical symptoms such as difficulty breathing, an unusually fast heart rate, and sweating.
For most people, though, fear of failure manifests itself in a much more subtle way, mainly self-doubt that prevents us from exploring uncertain paths:
1. We put off doing things because we’re unsure how they will turn out.
2. We avoid situations where we may have to try something new in front of others.
3. We avoid doing things we know will improve our lives because we lack the necessary skills.
4. We give ourselves the illusion of growth by reading, researching, watching videos… Anything but doing the thing and risking being judged by others.
But the good news is that nobody is hoping for you to fail. Most people you know would be happy to see you succeed, and the ones who don’t know you don’t care. So how can you shift your perception and overcome your fear of failure?