Most of you live life with certain goals or dreams, whether it’s that big house or getting that promotion or being a good friend, there are things you want to achieve in your lifetime, to make your life more fulfilling and meaningful.

But how many of you are actively pursuing those dreams? Do you let them linger in the back of your mind, hoping that one day you’ll finally go after them? Is fear of failure something that’s holding you back?

Well, it’s time to stop fearing failure. Silence your inner critic and start chasing your dreams!

Here are 5 tips to help you come face-to-face with your fears and tell them, boldly, “You will not stand in my way today.”

•  Define your failure

What does it mean for you to ‘fail’? Never trying? Giving up earlier than you had             hoped? Not getting the outcome you expected…in a specific time frame? It may             not seem obvious, but until you define specifically what failure means to you, it               will stand as a barrier to your success.

• Distinguish what is a real vs. a perceived threat

Fear is a response to our body’s need to survive dangerous situations. Real                   threats are dangerous to our survival. For instance, fear of getting caught in the               middle of a gang fight, where you could get seriously injured, is a real threat,                   whereas fear of competing in a half marathon is an imagined threat. The feeling             of fear may be real, but more often than not, the actual threat is not and it hinders           your ability to move forward.

• Set ‘approach’ targets vs. ‘avoidance’ targets

Approach targets involve Achieving a certain outcome whereas avoidance targets           involve avoiding specific end results. For instance, ‘I am going to the gym to stay             strong and fit’ vs. ‘I am going to the gym to avoid heart disease and bone loss.’               Approach targets set you up for a positive affirmation, whereas avoidance targets           have been shown to lead to anxiety, decreased self-confidence and personal                   control, and less satisfaction while pursuing targets. Think about this as focusing             on what you do want rather than what you don’t.

• Be flexible with the outcome

Those who adjust their targets and desired outcome to changing circumstances             report better mental health and well-being. You can keep your eye on a positive               outcome, but be open to changing your targets as necessary. Some just require             flexibility.

• Believing you will prevail

Our fear of failure is often less about our ability to execute, and more about the consequences if we don’t achieve our targets. Consequences may include feelings of embarrassment or inadequacy, losing influence, or disappointing others. However, we can change this by identifying which consequences we’re most afraid of, and then building skills to help manage those consequences. Ultimately, it’s not about wishing for a specific, positive outcome, but about feeling confident that we can handle the consequences that come along with our actions.

• Managing Fear

Managing fear and accepting the consequences of failure are important to personal growth and transformation. No one succeeds all the time. As Winston Churchill famously said, ‘Success is not final; failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” Persevering in the face of fear is what it means to be strong. But, persevering after success has been achieved, though, is what makes you magical.