In our perfectionist society, we’re conditioned to fear failure. As a result, we are oftentimes reluctant to take risks, try new things and embrace challenges.
If you want to be successful you must continue to step out on a limb and challenge yourself. Don’t let insecurity hold you back. Here are some ways to eliminate self-doubt and manage your fear.
Cultivate a growth mindset
View failure not as the end of a journey, but a step in a long process toward your goals. Don’t berate yourself when you make a mistake. Instead, ask yourself, “What lesson can I learn from this?” Take that new knowledge and put it to good use. When you make a mistake, reflect, learn and try again. Eventually, you will succeed if you persist.
Stop negative self-talk
Your internal dialog has a significant influence on how you feel. When you’re consumed with negative thoughts about your performance, your positive attitude will diminish and be replaced by self-doubt.
Take a different approach next time you try something new. For example, if you’re tempted to say something like, “Why did I even bother?” Replace that statement with something positive like, “Although this project didn’t work out as planned this time, I’m wiser for making the effort.”
When you practice positive self-talk, it will eventually become a habit and your view of failure will start to change.
