Facing the fear of failure - taking action on big ideas

A perfect husband, money, fame, and traveling, were all topics that came up in a recent conversation with my friends. We were discussing our ideal futures and what we would do if there were absolutely no hindrances. I was impressed that most of them had big dreams, and they are actually on the right track to achieving their goals. But I was reminded of many people in my life who don’t allow themselves to “shoot for the stars” because this seems unrealistic. I have found that labeling something as “unrealistic” is often a substitution for the real problem: a fear of failure.

Fear of failure is based on a fear of letting someone down — yourself or others —and a desire to avoid the resulting embarrassment, criticism and pity that often accompany failure. None of these factors are important enough to dwell on and shouldn’t cause you to live a life in the shadow of mediocrity.

Of course, refusing to succumb to a fear of failure does not guarantee immediate success—hard work and stepping outside of your comfort zone are both essential to achieving goals. It is useless to sit around waiting for opportunities to come to you; if your dreams are great, your efforts of pursuit should be equally so. While this zealous pursuit might not take you where you thought it would, it will still be worthwhile.

Putting in your best effort and coming up short might just mean that you don’t have the gift or talent necessary for that area or that you need to take another route. Not getting the job as a top researcher for FDA doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t be in a scientific career or that your researching skills are bad. One shut door is not conclusive, especially in the light of God’s providence — He might have plans for you elsewhere or be teaching you a valuable lesson through failures.

“By focusing on triumphs and ignoring failures, we can’t clearly identify which techniques are incidental to success and which ones are crucial,” Stanford business professor Jerker Denrell was quoted as saying.
Without comparing failure and success, it is impossible to tell whether or not something has succeeded through fortunate happenings or through intrinsic ingredients for success.

While dreaming big might mean a few more setbacks on the journey toward the top, these failures are often only temporary and often provide invaluable lessons. Even if you don’t end up achieving your original goals, you will end up in a better place than you would be if you had not taken any initiative. Most people who want to be the president of the United States won’t make it, but if they feel called to it and work hard, they will be much more likely to end up in some sort of position of leadership than if they had simply dismissed it as too grandiose.

I’m not saying that there won’t be times when you fall flat on your face. This is where it’s important to have a backup plan. If your plans involve achieving something in a competitive or exclusive field, make your plans realistically and have alternatives ready, pending possible setbacks.

And if setbacks do occur, think of them as an unforeseen change; and one that is not necessarily negative. Don’t get fixated on the outcome—life isn’t about tangible achievements; it’s about what we learn during the journey. Just remember that the journey will be a piddly affair if you don’t have a worthwhile destination.

It’s key to remember that big dreams will only be achieved through hard work and perseverance. A grand idea is only an idea unless actions are taken to accomplish it. Pursue your dreams with all your strength; let God close doors — don’t close them on yourself. We are instructed to run the race in such a way as to get the prize (1 Col. 9:24), which means doing everything with excellence. And don’t forget to enjoy yourself along the way.