If you recognize these 15 signs, you have an intense fear of failure that's hampering your success

Do you recognize any of these signs?

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The fear of failure can seriously impact an individual’s thoughts, cognitive processes and health. It can shape a person’s mindset and influence their beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors.

Though some fear of failure is not uncommon, below are cognitive and physical signs that you are experiencing an intense fear of failure that is actually impacting your ability to succeed.

1. Berating yourself with negative self-talk and thoughts.

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A person experiencing this fear often engages in continuous self-critical and self-defeating thoughts. They might constantly doubt their abilities, question their worth, and anticipate negative outcomes.

This negative self-talk reinforces the fear and creates a self-perpetuating cycle of fear and self-doubt. Negative self-talk can be difficult to deal with. It’s like that tiny voice inside your head is against you constantly, and the fear of failure feeds into it, fueling it more and more.

2. Engaging in black-and-white thinking.

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The dread of not succeeding can often lead individuals to adopt a black-and-white thinking pattern. When plagued by this worry, they may perceive any outcome other than absolute success as a failure.

This rigid mindset creates a dichotomy where success is equated with worthiness and failure with incompetence.

Such thinking leaves little room for nuance, growth, or learning from setbacks. It amplifies the pressure to achieve perfection, making individuals reluctant to take risks or try new things, fearing the potential for failure.

Black-and-white thinking can limit personal growth and prevent individuals from embracing challenges that could lead to valuable experiences and development.

3. Avoiding situations that carry a risk of failure.

A woman with long, wavy red hair and a green sweater rests her chin in her hands, gazing thoughtfully out the window of a cafe. A red coffee mug sits on the wooden table in front of her, with a brick wall and various objects in the background.

The fear of failure often leads to avoidance behavior, wherein individuals actively steer clear of situations or tasks that carry a risk of failure. This avoidance can manifest as procrastination, seeking excuses, or simply refusing to engage in challenging endeavors.

While it may temporarily relieve anxiety and discomfort, avoiding failure ultimately harms personal growth and success. By shying away from challenges, individuals miss out on valuable opportunities to learn, develop new skills, and gain confidence.

Avoidance behavior perpetuates a cycle of fear and stagnation, trapping individuals within their comfort zones and hindering their growth potential.

4. Over-generalizing your experiences.

A woman with long hair and expressive eyes is sitting by a window in a cozy interior, wearing a purple V-neck top. She rests her head on her hand, gazing thoughtfully outside. Snowflake decorations are visible on the window.

The fear of failure can lead individuals to over-generalize their experiences, drawing broad conclusions based on a single setback or perceived failure.

When gripped by this fear, individuals may interpret a single instance of failure as evidence of their overall incompetence or unworthiness.

This tendency to over-generalize magnifies the fear and can have a paralyzing effect on future endeavors. It creates a distorted perception where one failure becomes a representation of their entire identity or abilities.

Over-generalizing limits growth and stifles resilience by reinforcing negative beliefs and undermining confidence.

5. Catastrophizing what might happen if you fail.

A man in a teal shirt sits at a desk with his head in his hands, appearing stressed. A computer monitor displays documents, and a pair of glasses rests on the table. A woman works in the background in an office setting.

Catastrophizing is a cognitive distortion that often accompanies the fear of failure. It involves an exaggerated anticipation of adverse outcomes and a tendency to picture the worst-case scenarios.

When individuals who fear failure engage in catastrophizing, they magnify the potential consequences of failure and create a distorted perception of reality.

This distorted thinking pattern further intensifies their fear and anxiety as they convince themselves that failure will result in catastrophic outcomes, such as complete ruin, embarrassment, humiliation, or permanent damage to their self-esteem.

Catastrophizing feeds into the fear of failure, making it even more daunting, dramatic, and overwhelming.

6. Becoming hypervigilant to any signs of failure.

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Hypervigilance is where individuals become excessively watchful and alert for any signs of potential failure. This heightened state of vigilance stems from a deep-rooted fear of making mistakes or falling short of expectations.

It causes individuals to constantly scrutinize their own performance, often magnifying minor errors or setbacks. This hyper-focus on avoiding failure can be exhausting and anxiety-inducing, as individuals constantly feel pressured to meet impossibly high standards.

Hypervigilance can hinder creativity, innovation, and risk-taking, as individuals become overly cautious and hesitant to step outside their comfort zones.

7. Making excessive self-comparisons.

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Individuals who are afraid to fail may also engage in excessive self-comparison. They constantly compare themselves to others, focusing on their achievements and feeling inadequate.

This constant comparison perpetuates fear and reinforces feelings of incompetence or not meeting societal standards.

8. Experiencing a strong aversion to any feedback or criticism.

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A person who hates to fail will likely shun or disregard any form of feedback or criticism, no matter how constructive and helpful it may be.

They view criticism of a task as criticism of themselves as a person because they are unable to separate their self-worth from their performance.

Their aversion to feedback denies them valuable opportunities to learn new and potentially better ways of doing things and thus slows or halts their development.

9. Constantly seeking external validation and reassurance.

Two women are seated at a wooden table in a modern café with large windows. The woman on the left is wearing a red sweater and smiling, while the woman on the right, in a brown jacket, is gesturing with her hands as she speaks.

The fear of failure can drive individuals to seek external validation as a means to alleviate their anxieties and validate their self-worth.

When plagued by this fear, individuals may place excessive importance on others’ opinions and approval, relying on external validation as a measure of success or failure.

They may seek constant reassurance, validation, or praise from others to validate their abilities or accomplishments.

However, this reliance on external validation can harm one’s self-esteem and personal growth. It creates a dependency on others’ opinions, stifles authentic self-expression, and limits the exploration of new ideas or risks.

10. Experiencing imposter syndrome.

A woman with long blonde hair and blue eyes looks directly at the camera with a neutral expression. She is wearing a light-colored top. In the background, there is a man with a beard and a hat, slightly out of focus, gazing into the distance.

The fear of failure can contribute to the development of imposter syndrome, which is characterized by persistent self-doubt, a sense of inadequacy, and a fear of being exposed as a fraud, despite evidence of competence or success.

When motivated by fear, individuals may discount their accomplishments, attributing them to luck or external factors rather than acknowledging their own skills and abilities.

They may believe that they do not truly deserve their achievements, fearing that they will be exposed as an imposter. This self-perception creates a constant sense of anxiety and undermines self-confidence.

11. Constantly downplaying your personal achievements.

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Another cognitive symptom is the tendency to discount or dismiss one’s achievements. Individuals who fear failure may downplay their accomplishments or attribute them to external factors such as luck or timing.

They may struggle to internalize positive feedback or believe that their successes are undeserved. This mindset can undermine self-confidence and perpetuate the worry they feel about not living up to expectations.

Self-sabotaging, self-doubt, lacking assertiveness, and feeling chronically overwhelmed are all symptoms a person who downplays their achievements might exhibit.

12. Holding a negative and unrealistic self-image.

A man with short, dark hair and a beard is looking at himself in a mirror. He is wearing a maroon shirt and standing in a well-lit room with a white brick wall, a lamp, and some plants.

The fear of failure can profoundly impact a person’s self-image, leading to a negative perception of oneself. When consumed by this fear, individuals often internalize their failures, viewing them as personal flaws or shortcomings. This negative self-image erodes self-esteem, confidence, and self-worth.

They may develop a harsh inner critic, constantly berating themselves for perceived failures or mistakes. This self-perception can have wide-ranging effects on various aspects of life, including relationships, career choices, and personal well-being.

It may lead to self-sabotaging behaviors, avoidance of opportunities, or settling for less than what they deserve.

13. Procrastinating on tasks to avoid failure.

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Procrastination is the act of delaying or putting off events, tasks, or activities despite knowing that it may lead to negative consequences. The fear of failure often plays a significant role in fueling procrastination.

When individuals fear failing, they may hesitate to start or complete tasks due to the underlying anxiety and uncertainty surrounding the outcome. Procrastination becomes a coping mechanism to avoid confronting the possibility of failure directly.

By putting off tasks, individuals create a temporary sense of relief and avoid the immediate discomfort of facing their fears. However, this avoidance behavior ultimately leads to increased stress, diminished productivity, and a cycle of even greater fear and guilt.

14. Engaging in self-doubt, self-sabotage, and self-criticism.

A man sitting at a wooden table, wearing a light blue shirt and a loosened dark blue tie, holds a smartphone to his ear with a serious expression. His other hand is resting on the table, holding a glass of brown liquid, possibly whiskey. The background is dimly lit.

The fear of failure can give rise to self-doubt, self-sabotage, and self-criticism, which can have a profound impact on an individual’s well-being and success.

When gripped by this fear, individuals may doubt their abilities and question their capacity to achieve their goals.

Self-doubt erodes confidence and hampers decision-making, leading to hesitation and missed opportunities. Moreover, it can lead to self-sabotage, where individuals consciously or unconsciously engage in behaviors that undermine their own success.

They may procrastinate, avoid challenges, or engage in self-destructive habits as a way to prevent the risk of failure.

Alongside self-sabotage, self-criticism takes hold, as individuals harshly judge themselves for any perceived mistakes or shortcomings. This negative self-talk reinforces a person’s low self-esteem and inhibits personal growth.

15. Experiencing physical symptoms related to fear and stress.

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The fear of failure can have significant physical manifestations, as it is not solely confined to the realm of thoughts and emotions. When individuals experience this fear, they may encounter various physical symptoms that arise from the heightened stress and anxiety associated with this fear.

These physical symptoms can manifest differently in each individual, but shared experiences include increased heart rate, rapid breathing, muscle tension, and a general sense of restlessness or unease.

These feelings all happen when you’re trying to control things rather than just letting them be. The body’s stress response is activated, releasing stress hormones such as cortisol, which can further contribute to physical sensations like sweaty palms, trembling, headaches, digestive issues, and fatigue.