Stop Trying To Avoid Failure

We hear the word and cringe at the thought of it. From the time we were kids, we've been exposed to the many aspects and importance of winning. And as we mature, our ambitions continue to grow from our visions of success and accomplishment.

Envisioning a victorious outcome will often provide the strength to move forward, even when it seems as though you're pushing a boulder uphill.

But what of failure? What happens to your outlook when you think, even for a moment, that you might not succeed? You probably feel just about the same as everyone else would; defeated, sad, worried, or even stressed perhaps. And when these feelings begin to swirl around on the inside, the ripple effects begin to take hold of your performance, and create something often referred to as "paralysis by analysis".

It's as if the act of failure, has become synonymous with being a failure. And this couldn't be further from the truth.

The next time you feel the nerves beginning to kick in, all from the thoughts that you might not succeed; (whether they be of the project you're about to undertake, the company you're about to start, or even the wedding vows your about to make), take a moment to reflect on this:

When a baby starts learning to walk, what happens? Do they just stand straight up and start strolling around the living room, like they've been doing it for years? Of course not. They take a step or two, then fall down. They get back up, take a step or two, then fall down. Each time they fall down, that particular moment was a failed attempt at walking. But does this make that baby a failure? Of course not!

With each fall, the baby's muscle memory gets better and better. And as they continue to try, over and over again, they learn how to stabilize the entire body, so that the falling down becomes less and less... until finally, voila! They're walking like a pro.

There's not a parent in existence who would watch their child learning to walk, and think to themselves, "this kid is a total failure". On the contrary, with each step and stumble, that proud Mom or Dad is thinking, "You've got this! C'mon, one more step!"... all the while, cheering them on.

So why in the world would we as mature adults, consider our steps and stumbles in life to be any different?

If you're overly concerned that you're going to fail at something, it's because you're equating it to actually being a failure. This is nothing more than a mindset; one that can be corrected at a moment's notice.

As you read this, consider that project you've been hesitant to start; that promotion you've been wanting, but were afraid you might fail at; or even the commitment you're hesitant to make, because you might let someone down.

Now, being completely realistic with yourself, envision the steps and stumbles you're going to make, as your "muscle memory" gets better and better. Failures are not only normal, but completely necessary, in order for you to learn how to stabilize on your road to success.

So remember; failure cannot be avoided, nor should it be. Failures are nothing more than brief moments in life that teach us how to accomplish what we've set out to do.

Today, while you're traveling the road to success, embrace the unexpected failures along the way. They're really nothing more than turn-by-turn directions, that will get you to where you want to go.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Stop-Trying-To-Avoid-Failure&id=9479129