Every single one of us has goals or dreams that we wish to achieve. But how many of us actually make those dreams a reality? The trouble with setting goals or dreaming is that there is a tiny voice in the back of our heads saying, “You can’t do that.” This creates doubt about our abilities to achieve what we want and hesitation to try something new. This isn’t any different for disruptors. 

One of the leading causes of fear is tied to self-sabotage. It’s because of this fear that individuals choose safe routes and don’t grow. Self-sabotaging behavior stems from the fear of failure. The fear of failure grows inside of us and deter us from pursuing and achieving goals that can lead to great things. 

So, what can we do to stop sabotaging ourselves?

What-ifs are more damaging than failure

When the fear of failure begins to rear its ugly head, you’ll be tempted to quit. If you choose to abandon a project or new venture, you’ll eventually lay awake at night wondering if you should have stuck with it or if someone else out there is attempting the same task successfully. Questioning “what if” can be more detrimental than failing altogether. Not even pursuing the new venture can leave you behind the rest of your competition and stunt your growth.

Trust yourself

Many of our failures come from not trusting in ourselves. As a disruptor, you know your abilities and what you are capable of. But, when a new opportunity presents itself, you might find yourself questioning whether or not you can complete it successfully. The key to overcoming this is to remind yourself of your past accomplishments—many of which might have been much larger than the current one at hand.

Surround yourself with like-minded individuals

One way to combat the fear of failure is to include others who understand your vision and desires. By creating connections with other disruptors, you’re able to bounce thoughts and ideas off of those who have most likely experienced similar obstacles. With communities like Quantum Networks’ Circles, you’re able to ask questions and find solutions through collaboration. 

Keep your eyes on the prize

After you have been able to identify the root cause of your fears, you can focus on your goals. Whenever a self-sabotaging thought pops into your mind or you become overwhelmed with all of the pieces you’re working on, take a step back and look at how all of these things will add up to the end game. The more focus you can put on the overall outcome, the more we are able to diminish the fear from our minds.

By applying these methods and adopting a can-do attitude can assist us in battling the fear of failure and build confidence in our abilities.