So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10 NIV
Fear of the unknown and the fear of failure are considered to be two of the major threats to humankind in 2024 and beyond.
Fear has killed more dreams than all other factors combined. It is widely believed that fear develops into stress which further develop into other major illnesses combined. The fear of failure and of the unknown are deceptive because they are largely in your imagination, and therefore requires a change of mindset to overcome them.
They can even prevent you from trying in the first place, which guarantees failure.
It’s interesting that small children have no concept of failure or the unknown. They couldn’t care less if they fail to do something. They just try do it and try again. There are no negative thoughts or emotions involved. They just keep on going.
But it doesn’t take long before children learn to fear the opinions of others and the unknown. It’s usually around the time they start school. After that first day of school, we’re all changed forever. It might not be possible to go recapture the mentality of a toddler, but you can come close. The fear of failure and the unknown doesn’t have to impact your life significantly.
Consider these facts:
Failure is temporary - unless you quit. Failure isn’t final unless you give up. All the most successful people have experienced some failure. Yet, they ended up being successful precisely because they didn’t quit. Failure is just a temporary state that means nothing, because it’s only temporary.
Failure is common. You’ve failed hundreds of times and you managed to survive. Consider how many times you failed to walk or to talk well. Babies have constant failure, yet they are dependent on their parents to care for them. You too can depend on God, your creator to help you, and care for you. ● Successful people fail all of the time. It’s a huge part of how human beings learn. We realize that our approach didn’t work, we adjust, and we try again.
Fear of the unknown is educational. You can learn something new from everyone you meet and every new experience you have. Entering the unknown makes you more knowledgeable and capable. The more you venture out, the more knowledge you gain and the stronger you become.
Others are far less concerned about your failure than you think. Only few people might notice your fear, but they quickly turn their attention back on themselves and their own challenges. ● There’s nothing to worry about. Feel free to fail as much as necessary. Fail enough and you’ll quickly see that no one really cares.
Focus on how great it will be when you venture out and succeed. Instead of worrying about possible failure, consider possible success. Make yourself feel excited and positive about taking action. ● With high enough expectations, you’ll do just about anything without worrying about failure.
Redirect your thoughts. Put your attention on what you’re doing. A negative outcome isn’t going to cause any real harm, so forget about the outcome. Stay focused on your actions or something positive. Thinking about failing will freeze you in your tracks. Remember the words of the scripture in Isaiah 41 verse 10 and repeat it as often as you need to, until the fear has dissipated.
Consider the cost of doing nothing, consider the cost of not venturing out. Taking action might be a little scary, but what will happen if you do nothing? ● What will you feel about failing to take action?
● What if you’re stuck in your current life for the next decade or more?
● Maybe taking a risk is far more attractive than remaining where you are
What would you do if you weren’t afraid of the unknown or afraid of failing? Probably a lot more than you’re currently doing! How much has these fears limited your life?
We’ve all allowed the fear of failure and the fear of the unknown to influence our decisions. We’ve allowed this fear to stop us from trying new things or taking risks. We all have smaller lives than we could because we’re too concerned with what others think.
Rejecting these fears is one of the greatest things you can do for your future!
You can start today. What are you going to do today that you’ve been afraid to try?
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