Thoughts . . .

August 1-7, 1999 - Vol. 2, No. 31

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QUOTATION OF THE WEEK

"Nothing would be done at all if a man [or a woman] waited until he [or she] could find fault with it."
--Cardinal John Henry (1801-1890) English theologian

PERSONAL REFLECTIONS

The fear of failure is perhaps the most powerful block to preventing us from realizing our dreams. But who gives it the power? It does not have a life of its own. It is only as powerful as we make it. All our excuses for lack of action, when stripped down of their many layers, come down to the fear of failure. "I don't have time!" "I don't have the money!" I don't have the skills!" "Someone else has probably already tried it!" These excuses and many more have the fear of failure at their core.

While it is true that we should not haphazardly go down the road of life, the fear of failure quite often prevents us from ever exploring the possibilities and taking that first step. Courage does not mean lack of apprehension. It does not even mean the absence of fear. What it does mean is that we become the masters of our fears and not their servant. We look forward to resolving the roadblocks that stand in our way. We do not accept the possibility of failure--for we have not failed in a pursuit in which we learn and grow. Failure only comes when we do not try.

So in the pursuit of your dreams, don't fear failure. Bravely take that first little step, make any necessary adjustments, and then take another step. With each step comes success not failure. With each step you learn and grow.