ObesityHelp

What are your dreams? What are your goals? If you were to describe the life that you would love to have, what would it look like? Write down your answers to these questions. Be as "out there" as you want, even if you think something is impossible, write it down. Now, look at your answers…what is holding you back?

For many of us, what holds us back is the fear of failure. Those dreams, goals, or the ultimate life you would like to have has all sorts of perceived obstacles. Those perceived obstacles probably have the commonality of the fear of failure. Now, look at your answers and really try on the concept of: if you couldn't fail, what would you do? Think of all you could accomplish! How does it feel to reflect back on your answers without the obstacle of failure? For members that I talk to, this thought is very exciting and freeing.

Fear of failure is one of the biggest fears people have. For many of us, the fear of failure is paralyzing, keeping us stuck and continually limiting ourselves. People don't accomplish even a fraction of what they're capable of, because they're afraid of the possibility of failure. People that are successful overcome their fear of failure. Unsuccessful people are incapacitated by their fear of failure.

Here's some "how to" items to assist you in overcoming the fear of failure in order to achieve your dreams and goals:

• Do something now. Be courageous and bold; take one step toward your dreams and goals. Doing something is better than doing nothing at all. Even if it doesn't work, it isn't a failure, because you can just try something else.
• Be persistent. People that are successful don't give up. They keep trying different ways to attain the results they want. Unsuccessful people try one thing. If that one thing doesn't work, they give up and accept the fear of failure as their reality.
• Learn from what doesn't work. Just because something doesn't work, doesn't mean you have failed or that you are a failure. Analyze the reasons something you attempted didn't work, regroup, and try again with the new knowledge you've gained.
• Failure is part of success. Failure is not the final result. Actually, to the contrary – failure is part of success. Failure is part of a larger process to fine tune our way to the success we desire. Successful people become stronger when they fail. They realize that every time something fails, they learn more about what to do and are closer to achieving success. Failures are mere stepping stones on the path to success. Failures are final only if you accept defeat and give up.
• Failure has no face. Failure is about outcomes and results. Failure isn't a personality characteristic or a personality trait. Even if you don't obtain the result you want, it doesn't mean you, personally, are a failure. It means you tried something (YAY for you!), and that you're learning and moving forward to reaching the dreams or goals you want. Although what you do may not give you the result you wanted, it doesn't mean you are a failure.

Me Minutes
Use your "Me Minutes" to write down your dreams and goals. As you write, note any obstacles that come to your mind. Are these obstacles really versions that mask as a fear of failure? Reframe any fear of failure from a negative to a positive. Look at failures as learning tools, stepping stones to help you focus on positive things you can do to attain your success. Your fear is perfectly normal. Keep in the forefront of your mind that you are more than any fear of perceived failure. When you embrace failure as part of the process to accomplish success, you'll easily rise above it.