Dearest Darling Friends,
Ask yourself, what is your greatest fear? Think…is it the ‘Fear of Failure‘?
Some want to start on their own but fear it might fail. So they don’t start and keep on delaying. They keep on waiting for enough support that eventually never happens. Time goes and the fire is doused. They are left with regrets, grudges and enough imaginary reasons to justify their doomed wait.
Some secretly want to do public speaking. They are scared they may forget their lines, they might forget what they are supposed to say. They do not muster the courage needed to take the initiative. They too carry regrets consistently convincing themselves they will grab the next opportunity.
Some secretly want to expand but are petrified they might lose the money they have painstakingly earned and saved over the years. They fear, their products and services might get rejected. They keep on dreaming about expansion without ever going ahead.
Some want to develop a new relationship but nurture a doubt if they will be hurt. They in turn lose out on deep relationships with some wonderful people in life.
Some want to have a different career. Different than what the friends and the family think is right for them. They walk the path where the heart is not there. They are all the time fantasizing about the ‘other’ path they wanted to pursue. They are scared what if they fail and pain their loved ones?
Some wanted to marry the one they loved. For inexplicable reasons they give up just before the crucial stand point. They are scared what if it didn’t work out? What will people say? Without a support system will they be able to work it out?
All these people do not live the life they want to, they prefer surrender and to ‘Play Safe’. What stopped all of them? ‘Fear of Failure‘? Though we might want to believe it is so, but the truth is different.
Personally, I believe ‘Fear of Failure‘ is over rated. There is something that is worse than fear of failure. Really??? Ok, so what is worse than fear of failure?
It is ‘Fear of Ridicule‘. The fear of people laughing at us. The fear of people making fun of us. The fear of being the butt of jokes and being humiliated. The fear of facing sarcasm. The fear of being reminded we were not good enough. All in all I repeat it is ‘Fear of Ridicule‘.
Very simply put, if it was fear of forgetting lines as we speak we will never be bathroom singers. Singing in front of others creates a possibility of ridicule. That SCARES us. As long as bath room singers are alive, remember it is ‘Fear of Ridicule‘ that stops us and NOT ‘Fear of Failure‘.
Whatever happens, stay cool. Even when you are laughed at, stay cool. It will be fantastic if even you can laugh. Take it easy and move on! People will stop laughing only when we have succeeded. They will keep on ridiculing us as long as WE stopped US. This realization has always worked for me. It has always helped me to give my best and much more in all the meaningful endeavors of life.
Yes, people have laughed at my experimental forays. People predicted my failures. Some times they have been right too. I however, never stopped with my failures. I turned every one of them in to a eventual success. Today, all those who laughed earlier, do not laugh any more at me. I continue to laugh. I understand I will not win all the battles of life, I will win the ultimate wars and THAT is important.
The day we capture the ‘Fear of Ridicule‘ we will feel free. Isn’t freedom what life is all about?
May you capture all thoughts of ridicule. May you soar in the open skies as a free bird of the heavens.