You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.
~Wayne Gretzky

Does it ever seem like opportunities are passing you by, or that you will not be able to achieve the things you want to achieve? How many of these “shots” have you tried to make? People avoid taking shots for all different reasons. Feelings of inadequacy, fatigue, lack of interest, or not enough time are all reasons people may list for avoiding new challenges. However, for many people, fear of failure is at the root of their reluctance to try. Nobody wants to experience the sting of failure. For some, that sting is so strong that failure must be avoided at all costs. The meaning of the failure is often what hurts the most. For example, does the failure mean that you are helpless, unlovable, unintelligent, or a bad person? If this is the interpretation, it’s no wonder the failure hurts so much. Counselors help many people cope with failure and negative feelings toward themselves. To do this, counselors often use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). There are other ways to cope with failure without seeing a counselor. Click the link to read my post about dealing with failure and setbacks.