Craig Patterson

Greg Olsen said, "Hard is good. The earlier you can learn to deal with hard, the easier it gets...because hard is coming. Whether we want to shield it from kids now or not, hard is coming." You can't steal the struggle for other people. One of the biggest epidemics today is people's "fear of failure." They're afraid to start because they're afraid to "fail". When you're afraid to fail, you become paralyzed. You're too scared to take risks, to try new things, or to put yourself out there. 5 Ways For Them to Overcome Their Fear of Failure: 1. Change the Attitude About Failing - Failure isn’t a sign of weakness, it’s a sign of bravery. True growth only happens when you learn from your mistakes. Reframe the language and perception around challenges or "failures", make it exciting and enticing to try new things. 2. Emphasize Effort not "Ability" - Focus on the effort put into a task, rather than the innate ability. Praise the hard work and determination, not the outcome. Cultivating a growth mindset allows children to understand that abilities can be developed through dedication and persistence. 3. Keep Trying New Things - Encourage children to explore new activities and interests. This helps them understand that it's normal not to excel at everything. It also normalizes a "beginner's mindset" when learning and grow. They will understand that the value lies in the experience and learning process, not just in achieving success. 4. Go through Worst-Case Scenarios and Fear-Setting - Fear setting helps you to identify and confront your fears and the potential obstacles that may be holding you back. You think through the worst-case scenario and the steps to mitigate it. The process allows you to put your fears under a microscope and consider the potential benefits of taking action vs. “failing”. 5. Demonstrate Unconditional Support and Love - Children need to feel secure in the knowledge that their value and your love for them are not contingent on their successes or failures. It is not outcome driven. Showing consistent support builds confidence and to allow them to take risks and learn from their experiences without the fear of losing your approval. There will always be setbacks. There will be challenges. But worrying about failure holds you back more than the failure itself ever could. - - - Follow @coachajkings for more posts like this!