When you're passionate about something, the thought of failing at it can be gut-wrenching. As fear takes over our lives, success starts to become more elusive. That is because fear is like cancer that can spread to every corner of your being. Not only can it weaken your overall efforts, but it can also paralyze you into a state of not taking any action at all.

As a young woman, I was afraid of failure. And while that fear didn't stop me from pursuing my goals, it did hold me back from being my best self.

But first and foremost it is important to understand why you're afraid of failure. Is it merely the fear of losing your time and effort invested in achieving success, or is it something deeper within you?

4 Tips For Overcoming Your Fear Of Failure

"Nothing To Fear But Fear Itself" 1933 inaugural address of Franklin D. Roosevelt

I've always been inspired by people who have overcome their fears and accomplished great things. These are the people who inspire others and move society forward.

Fearlessness is an attitude that can help you overcome any obstacle in life. Fearlessness is not the absence of fear but a state of mind where you face your fears and move forward.

So how do we overcome our fears? It's not easy, but you can start with the tips below:

1. Authenticity

The first step to overcoming the fear of failure is being honest about why you're avoiding risk. Are you afraid of failing because you're afraid of disappointing others? Are you afraid of failing because it might make you look bad? Or do you simply enjoy the safety and security of not trying anything new?

Once you know why you're avoiding risk, it becomes easier to stop hiding from yourself and start tackling your fears head-on.

Being honest about your fears and talking about them openly with friends and family members can help you accept how you feel so that you can start to take action against them.

2. Identify your feelings

It's important not to judge yourself for being afraid; instead, try to understand why you are experiencing fear. Understanding your feelings will help you learn how to deal with them when they come up again in the future.

Take note of all those times when it's easier for you to hide behind excuses or avoid taking risks altogether; then commit to being more open about the things that bring you joy and those things that cause stress or discomfort in your life.

3. Don't compare yourself with others

Failure is part of the process of success. If you never fail, you're not trying hard or taking enough risks. If you focus on avoiding failure, you'll settle for less than what you're capable of achieving.

The greatest obstacle on your path to success is the fear of failure. It's easy to get caught up in other people's success and compare yourself with them, but it's important to remember that what works for them might not work for you. You need to follow your path and trust that everything will fall into place when it's supposed to — even if that means failing a few times along the way.

But what if there was another way? What if failure isn't something to avoid but rather something we can learn from? What if we can stop fearing failure and start embracing it?

4. Put yourself in the driver's seat - Build confidence

If a specific situation triggers your fear of failing, try doing small things first until you get comfortable enough to move forward with bigger challenges. Take action with byte-sized steps!

For example, if public speaking makes you anxious, start by giving short presentations at work or in front of friends and family before moving on to bigger presentations requiring more preparation time or a bigger audience.

Break down big goals into sub-goals, so they are more manageable. If one goal seems too big right now, break it down into smaller steps, so it feels less overwhelming. For example, if you plan to start exercising, start by working out for 10 minutes every day for a few weeks before shifting the bar to 20 and then 30 minutes.

Bottom line: Be True To Yourself, Be Fearless!

Fear is a powerful emotion, but it can be overcome with practice and persistence. Overcoming the fear of failure isn't a one-time process but a lifelong journey. You MUST be prepared to overcome this fear again and again!

The first step is to become conscious of it and identify the cause of your fear. The next step is to understand how this fear affects your life. When you know what you're up against, you'll be able to take action and make some changes.