I listened to my daughter practice today for a city-sponsored talent show. She reviewed the song with her voice coach over and over. I could tell in the beginning she was timid and unhappy with her sound. As she practiced, she became more confident in what she was doing. Nevertheless, in the end, her words were, “I sound horrible! I don’t know if I can do it.” Her coach and I encouraged her, but the drive home she wrestled with her doubt, fear, and the thought of not entering. No amount of affirmation from others could hold a candle to the fear of failure!
I can remember in Jr. High trying out for the cheerleading team. I don’t remember being afraid of not making it. I just remember how badly I wanted it. However, when I didn’t make the squad, the feeling of failure was so overwhelming that I never attempted to tryout again. The fear of failing twice was just too much!
Theodore Roosevelt said, “It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.” I have always regretted never trying again, because I will never know if I could have made it. Instead of allowing my failure to push me to practice more, work harder, and get better, I let it freeze me in time! I let my fear of failure dictate my future!
They say that FEAR is an acronym for False Evidence Appearing Real. Publilius Syrus said, “It is foolish to fear what you cannot avoid.” We cannot avoid failing, but we can avoid not trying! If we’ve stopped before we’ve even started then we’ve already failed! And our attempt at preventing what we feared has already taken place! The false evidence appearing real believes we aren’t good enough! Consequently, if we never try we’ll never know just how good we can become!
So here is my challenge to you: Take what you fear the most of failing at, and run after it with the mindset that every unsuccessful step along the way is one more educated step closer to victory! Thomas Edison said, “I failed my way to success!” Don’t allow a Negative Nelly or someone’s no to freeze you in time and dictate YOUR future!
For nothing is impossible with God. Luke 1:37
TELL ME YOUR THOUGHTS:
What are some of the things people are the most afraid of failing at? Why do you think they are so afraid to fail?
thank you for this!