I happened to be listening to a radio program last night. The talk show host made an interesting comment. Let me paraphrase what he said:

“A friend of mine said I was fearless…

I’m not fearless, I’ve just accepted the possibility of failure. Therefore I apply myself completely to the task at hand knowing that however it turns out, I did the best I was capable of”…

There are three key elements to what he said:

1. I accept the possibility of failure.

2. I apply myself completely to the task at hand.

3. I know that when I’m finished, I will have done the best I was capable of doing.

The greatest fear, most people have, about doing something, is failing at it. Accepting failure, as a very real possibility, has a way of reducing the “dread factor” to being “just another aspect of the process”. Failure, in and of itself, no longer becomes the number one emotional trigger. Distracting you and robbing you of your energy and determination.

Treat failure as a matter of fact possibility. Then “put it away” and forget about it. You no longer have to review it or refer to it because you’ve given it all the consideration necessary.

By doing this you remove the emotional component of the fear of failure.

Now you are able to focus your attention and emotional energy. This allows you to become fully engaged in the steps necessary for the success of your endeavor. You are emotionally free to pull out the stops, and do everything you are capable of to the very best of your ability.

You allow yourself to become “fearless”.

Who would have thought accepting failure as a possibility has the power to unleash you, so you can succeed? An interesting dichotomy! After all, most people would be afraid to consider failure…

-Bob Baran