How to overcome your fear of failure and take action anyway
Nope.
Fear of failure is the silent dream killer. It keeps you stuck, overthinking, and watching opportunities pass you by. The worst part? Most of the time, the fear itself is worse than the failure.
If you’ve ever hesitated to take action because you’re afraid of failing, you’re not alone. But here’s the truth: successful people don’t avoid failure.
They use it to their advantage.
Let’s break down how you can shift your mindset, stop letting fear control your decisions, and start moving forward with confidence.
Reframe "failure". It’s just data.
Most people see failure as something shameful or final, but failure is just feedback—a way to gather information about what works and what doesn’t. Think of it like a scientist running experiments. If one doesn’t work, they don’t call themselves a failure—they just adjust the approach and try again.
“I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.”
~ Thomas Edison
Imagine if Thomas Edison had given up after the first few failed attempts at creating the lightbulb. His persistence and his ability to see each failed experiment as useful data is why we have electric lighting today.
What to do instead:
Adopt a growth mindset. Instead of seeing failure as proof that you’re not good enough, see it as a step toward mastery.
Ask better questions. Instead of “What if I fail?” ask, “What can I learn from this?”
Detach failure from your identity. Failing at something doesn’t make you a failure—it makes you someone who is growing.
Take action: Write down a past failure and list three things you learned from it. How did it help you grow?
Read: Create your dream life: 3 Unconventional steps that actually work
Normalize small failures (so big ones don’t scare you)
If failure terrifies you, it’s probably because you’ve been taught to avoid it at all costs. The easiest way to stop fearing failure? Fail on purpose—just a little.
Think about toddlers learning to walk. They fall constantly, but they don’t sit down and decide they’re not "meant" to walk. They get up, adjust, and try again.
JK Rowling was rejected by 12 publishers before Harry Potter became a global phenomenon. Imagine if she had taken those rejections as a final “no” instead of treating them as part of the process.
What to do instead:
Take small risks daily. Try something new where the “failure” is minor (sending a bold email, speaking up in a meeting, trying a new skill).
Desensitize yourself. The more you fail in low-stakes situations, the easier it is to handle bigger risks.
Celebrate your mistakes. If you tried something and it didn’t work, acknowledge it as progress. You’re in the game!
Take action: Set a “failure goal” this week—intentionally try something where there’s a chance you won’t succeed, just to prove to yourself that failure isn’t the end.
Read: From reactive to proactive: How to take control of your life
Don't think. Don't think. Don't think.
Focus on action, not overthinking
The longer you hesitate, the bigger and scarier failure feels. Overthinking turns a simple decision into a massive mental obstacle. The solution? Shorten the gap between decision and action.
Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon, has a “regret minimization framework.” Instead of obsessing over whether a decision will fail, he asks himself: “Will I regret not trying this when I’m 80?” If the answer is yes, he moves forward.
What to do instead:
Give yourself a deadline. Limit how long you allow yourself to analyze a decision before acting.
Use the 5-second rule. If you have an idea, count down from five and take action before your brain talks you out of it.
Break it into tiny steps. Instead of thinking about the whole challenge, just focus on the first step.
Take action: Choose one thing you’ve been avoiding out of fear. Take one small action toward it right now—send the email, make the call, start the project.
Redefine success (Hint: It’s not perfection)
If you think success means “getting it right on the first try,” failure will always feel like a disaster. But real success is persistence, not perfection.
Sara Blakely, founder of Spanx, grew up with a father who encouraged failure. Every night at dinner, he’d ask, “What did you fail at today?” If she didn’t have an answer, he’d be disappointed—because it meant she hadn’t tried anything new. That mindset helped her take risks, build resilience, and become a billionaire.
What to do instead:
Set process-based goals. Instead of “I must succeed,” aim for “I will take action and learn.”
Track your progress. Even small wins count. Celebrate them!
Remember, discomfort = growth. If you’re never failing, you’re not pushing yourself enough.
Take action: Rewrite your definition of success. What does progress look like for you beyond just “not failing”?
Fear of failure doesn’t go away. You just get better at handling it. The more you reframe failure as feedback, normalize small risks, take fast action, and redefine success, the less control fear has over your life.
Your dream life is waiting for you, but you have to be willing to fail on the way there. Get started with the Design Your Dream Life Workbook, your roadmap to an intentional life.
What’s one fear-driven excuse you’re ready to let go of? Drop it in the comments.
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