How Fear of Failure Impact Your Productivity?

Are you afraid of failing? Hold on here is the solution!

Taskeen Qasim
4 min readDec 24, 2022
Photo by the blowup on Unsplash

Have you ever failed? It’s a yes, right? I myself failed too! in fact, everyone faces failure at least once or twice may be for many times in their lives! should they cease their trials for a successful life? We all know failure is a term that is being treated as having a negative impact, but do you know? it is the first step toward success! sharing a beautiful quote by John F. Kennedy

“Those who dare to fail miserably can achieve greatly.”

So, those who have fear of failure are actually afraid of the initiative that will definitely lead them toward success. And this fear always constrains them from trying new better things. what’s your opinion about this? let’s have a look at the fear of failure.

The psychological impact of fear of failure

when a person becomes persistent in fearing failure he/she starts growing toward the condition of atychiphobia. That is the condition of intense fear of failure. It can result in many psychological defects i.e., depression, anxiety, panic attacks, and shamefulness. The victim of atychiphobia avoids situations where the chances of failure are greater like in exams and interviews.

Atychiphobia grows due to many reasons including family history, environmental factors, traumatic behaviors, etc.

Photo by M.T ElGassier on Unsplash

Signs of fear of failure

The fear of failure affects people in many ways that’s why it is not very simple to diagnose. But some of the symptoms are here that can help you to figure out whether you have fear of failure.

1. Afraid of performing easy tasks at work

2. Feeling like you don’t have the power and skill to do something

3. Underestimating your abilities to satisfy yourself

4. Telling others, you probably will fail, to lower the expectations

5. Hatting being judged

6. Loss of control

7. Avoidance

8. Prone to procrastination while working

9. Feeling imperfections as a negative thing

10. Self-sabotaging

What causes fear of failure?

Fear of failure has many causes but the well-known ones are given below.

· Critical environments

· Perfectionism

· Traumatic conditions

· Genetic history

· Self-perceptions

Don't let Fear of Failure decide your success

Failure is not the end but it's the first attempt at learning. Skip that “ t ” from the phrase “ you can’t do it ”, and dream about goals and struggle for them without being afraid of the consequences. According to Paulo Coelho

There’s only one thing that makes dream impossible to achieve: Fear of Failure

Never underestimate your skills, if you want to do something, go for it! because you are enough!

Cure for Fear of Failure

Finally! let’s talk about the cure for this phobia. There exists a number of ways to deal with the fear of failure including Psychotherapy, medication, and self dealings.

Psychotherapy includes mental stability through certain treatments mostly with the help of CBT (Cognitive-behavioral Therapy) and MBSR (Mindfulness-based stress reduction). While the medication involves the prescription to avoid anxiety, stress, or depression.

How to overcome Fear of Failure?

There are some strategies to be followed by the victim to overcome the fear of failure.

· Refine your opinion about the failure

Don't consider failure as a threat. Think about the benefits of failure as it is the best opportunity to acquire new things. Your way of thinking helps to overcome fear.

· Be kind to yourself

Never treat yourself inadequately, and always try to forgive yourself for failure. Think about the positive part of the happening and gather the power to restart again for a better result.

· Deep breadthening exercises

Relaxing exercises and mindfulness techniques can help you to overcome the anxiety resulting from the fear of failing.

· Focus on controllable things

Instead of thinking about the situations that are not in your hand put your efforts into things you can control.

· Consider the consequences

If something seems to be challenging prepare yourself in advance for a bad situation so may you can tackle that scenario easily as you had made up your mind for it. It will help you to be relaxed comparatively.

· Set alternatives

Setting plans A, B, and C can help You to overcome fearful situations.

· Think positively

Challenge overthinking and negative self-talk.

· Face the failure

Instead of feeling fear of failure, face it and turn it into a strength. There is a powerful saying by Thomas Edison

“I have not failed. I have found 10,000 ways that don’t work.”

Conclusion

As there is no one in this world that is free from failure. So, don’t panic about failure, it's not a big deal to be failed! It’s just you! only you! who can beat this fear. So, discover the positivity behind every happening, and everything will be fine. If you feel comfortable share your biggest fear of failure! Have a good day 😊 you can do it!

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