Have you ever been so afraid of failing that you decided not to try it at all? Many of us have probably experienced this at one time or another.
Today, let’s dive into a topic that many of us can relate to: fear of failure. We’ve all been there, whether it’s the fear of trying out a new nail art technique or the anxiety that comes with starting your own nail salon.
But guess what? It’s time to face those fears head-on and pave the way for success in our nail careers. So grab your favorite nail polish and let’s get started!
(By LetterShoppe)
The Paralyzing Power of Fear
The fear of failing can be crippling – it can cause us to do nothing, and therefore resist moving forward. Like most people, I have a friend who I think is probably the most brilliant person I’ve ever met.
She has the potential to change the world and I don’t mean that in the sappy, supportive best friend sort of way. Some of her ideas really blew me away. But too often she fails to take chances. Too often she lets opportunities pass her by. If she had only applied herself, she would probably own a chain of salons by now.
I kept encouraging her to chase after her dreams. But she always told me that she was scared. Things like getting rejected for business loans, asking her family and friends to support her social media page, or selling her services to people just gave her anxiety.
” I just don’t want to make a fool of myself,” she said. And that’s when it hit me. I quickly realized that for most people, the one thing that holds us back from trying to achieve our goals isn’t lack of opportunity but often our own fear of failure.
I will admit that I sometimes fall into this myself. I know this happened to me early in my career. I had a really bad accident with a customer’s acrylic set – and honestly, that really killed my self-confidence.
I was devastated for the next few months. And it was hard for me to get back in the groove. I formed the acrylic on her nail unevenly and when it was time to file I burnt her a couple of times. It took me 1 and a half hours to finish.
She was so mad that she caused a big commotion and embarrassed me in front of all the other customers in the salon. That really traumatized me. I’m not sure if this ever happened to you but I kept on doubting myself afterward.
I just didn’t have the confidence to do acrylics anymore. I was in a bad rut. I was downplaying my own skills to avoid the possibility of another failure. I told myself that I shouldn’t give up because I had my young family to take care of at the time.
So I challenged myself through adversity and kept training on fake practicing hands and young customers until I felt comfortable again.I learned that failure can teach us things about ourselves that we would never have learned by ourselves. For instance, failure can help you discover how strong of a person you are.
(By TanyaButskaya)
Often, valuable insights come only after a failure. Accepting and learning from those insights is key to succeeding in life. Countless psychological studies have shown that fear of failure is the number one barrier to personal success.
We fear failure because we don’t separate tasks from ourselves, and therefore our self-esteem is at risk every time we attempt to do anything worth living for. In other words, we’re afraid of being humiliated because, at a subconscious level, we link failure to humiliation.
Fear of looking foolish in the eyes of others is a serious stumbling block. So how do we get over our fear of failure and its misguided companion humiliation?
What Causes the Fear of Failure?
Before we tackle how to conquer the fear of failure, let’s understand why it exists in the first place. There are several factors that contribute to this fear, including:
1. Past experiences: Perhaps you’ve had a negative experience in the past where you tried something new and it didn’t go as plann ed. This can create a fear of repeating that failure.
2. High expectations: When we set high expectations for ourselves, the fear of failure increases. We worry about not meeting those expectations and disappointing ourselves or others.
3. Lack of confidence: If you don’t believe in yourself or your abilities, it’s natural to fear failure. Confidence plays a crucial role in overcoming this fear.
Definitions of Failure
Let’s take a moment to redefine failure. Many people see it as a negative outcome or a sign of incompetence. But in reality, failure is simply a stepping stone to success. It’s an opportunity to learn, grow, and improve. As Thomas Edison famously said, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”
Characteristics of the Fear of Failure
The fear of failure manifests itself in various ways. Here are some common characteristics:
1. Perfectionism: Setting impossibly high standards and being afraid of making any mistakes.
2. Procrastination: Av oiding tasks or projects out of fear that they won’t meet expectations.
3. Self-doubt: Constantly questioning your abilities and second-guessing yourself.
How You Experience Fear of Failure
The fear of failure can manifest differently for each person. Some common experiences include:
1. Physical sensations: Racing heart, sweaty palms, and a feeling of tension or unease.
2. Negative self-talk: Inner dialogue filled with self-doubt, criticism, and fear.
3. Avoidance behavior: Stepping back from challenges or opportunities to avoid the possibility of failure.
Atychiphobia: Fear of Failure
Atychiphobia is the technical term for the fear of failure. While it may sound like a tongue twister, it’s a real fear that many people grapple with.
Atychiphobia can have a significant impact on both personal and professional growth. But fear not, because there are strategies to confront and overcome it.
Here Are 3 Certain Steps (In No Order) To Manage Those Fears And Learn From Your Experiences
Step 1. Redefine Failure
My mother used to say, “just because you didn’t win doesn’t mean you’ve lost.” If your objective is to be greatest, then I would agree that you will fail at some point to get there. You must take that failure and reframe your perspective on the situation and gain control of your fears and face them.
Step 2. Have A Contingency Plan
I find that making a Plan B is a great way to assure myself that if you don’t meet the objective; the world will not end. All doors are not closed. No, does not mean never. Having a solid workable Plan B can ease the pressure when attempting new things to help alleviate irrational fears.
Step 3. Indulge In Some Positive Self-Talk
Stand in the mirror and go through your daily affirmations. Chant a mantra that puts you in a positive place. Say only positive things about yourself and your goals. It may feel strange and silly at first, but after a while, it becomes a habit.
Positive thoughts begin to dilute negative ones and you become your own cheerleader.
(By Sahar Hosseini)
How Not to Be Afraid of Failure
It’s important to remember that everyone experiences failure at some point in their lives. Here are a few tips to help you conquer your fear of failure:
1. Focus on the process, not just the outcome: Instead of fixating on the end result, shift your focus to the process and the steps you take to achieve your goals. Celebrate each small victory along the way.
2. Challenge your negative thoughts: When negative thoughts arise, challenge them with positive affirmations and evidence of your past successes. Remind yourself of your capabilities and achievements.
3. Take action: The best way to overcome fear is to take action. Start by taking small steps towards your goals and build momentum from there.
How to Stop Living in Fear
Living in fear can hold you back from living your best life. Here are a few final tips to help you stop living in fear and embrace new opportunities:
1. Visualize success: Imagine yourself succeeding and achieving your goals. Visualize the positive outcomes and the satisfaction that comes with overcoming challenges.
2. Practice gratitude: Cultivate an attitude of gratitude by focusing on the positive aspects of your life. This can help shift your mindset from fear to appreciation.
3. Seek support when needed: If your fear of failure is overwhelming and impacting your daily life, don’t hesitate to seek support from a therapist or counselor.
They can provide guidance and strategies tailored to your specific situation.
Acceptance is Key
Acceptance is key, my fellow nail technicians. Acceptance of ourselves, our skills, and the journey we’re on. It’s okay to have imperfections and make mistakes. It’s through these experiences that we grow and become better at what we do.
The Pressure to be Perfect
As nail technicians, we often put a lot of pressure on ourselves to be perfect. We strive for flawless application, impeccable designs, and satisfied clients.
But here’s the thing: nobody is perfect. Not even the most experienced nail techs out there. So why do we hold ourselves to such impossible standards?
It’s easy to get caught up in comparing ourselves to others. We see stunning nail art on Instagram and think, “I could never do that.”
We hear stories of other techs who can do a full set in half the time it takes us and wonder if we’re just not cut out for this industry. But the truth is, we all have our own unique strengths and weaknesses. And that’s okay.
Embracing Imperfections
Instead of beating ourselves up over our imperfections, let’s embrace them. Let’s celebrate the fact that we’re constantly learning and growing as nail technicians. After all, it’s through our mistakes and missteps that we become better at what we do.
Remember, it’s not about being the best nail tech in the world. It’s about being the best nail tech you can be. And that starts with accepting yourself, flaws and all.
So go ahead, and give yourself a pat on the back for how far you’ve come and the skills you’ve developed along the way.
Learning from Mistakes
Speaking of mistakes, let’s talk about how valuable they can be. Every nail tech, no matter how experienced, has made mistakes. Maybe you accidentally smudged a fresh manicure or had a client who wasn’t happy with the end result. It happens to the best of us.
But here’s the secret: Mistakes are opportunities for growth. They allow us to identify areas where we can improve and learn from our missteps. So instead of dwelling on what went wrong, take a step back and analyze the situation.
What could you have done differently? How can you avoid making the same mistake in the future? By approaching mistakes with a growth mindset, you’ll become a better nail tech in the long run.
Final Thoughts
I learned all of this by making mistakes and learning from them in the last 20 years in this business. But don’t think that I don’t have fears anymore because I still do.
I have been stuck on trying to start a beauty brand for years, and so many of my friends and family encouraged me to start one but I just couldn’t push forward with it. I was afraid of failing. I was afraid of the negativity.
I kept thinking about all the negative outcomes that could happen if I started one. Now I know exactly what my friend was going through when she told me she was scared. I had to reframe my thoughts. I couldn’t let fear stop me from pursuing my dreams and goals.
It took me a while to find my reason why but I found it. In my next blog post, I will go more in-depth about how I found it and use it to persevere through all the tough times.
But for now, I want to finish up by telling you guys that I finally overcame my fears and decided to start my beauty business! I was really hesitant at first to share this but I finally decided to put it out there in the universe.
I want to close this blog article out by telling you that doing something new can be very scary. Feeling fearful or anxious is okay, just breathe. Take a moment to examine your fears and decide to act despite them. In my opinion, that’s the sign of a true champion.
Let me know what were some of your fears and how you overcame them in the comments below! Also, remember to share this article with whoever you think might need to read this today.
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