75 Powerful Affirmations to Overcome Fear of Failure

Fear of failure is one of the biggest obstacles you will face when working towards big goals. 

Most people have experienced it in their lives at some point but for perfectionists, it can be a daily occurrence.

I spent years stuck in a cycle of procrastination and burnout because I didn’t tackle my fear of failure head-on. 

It was only when I used affirmations to overcome my fear of failure, that I was able to move the needle forward and pursue my goals with confidence.

This blog wouldn’t exist if I didn’t take the risk of trying something new. 

These 75 affirmations are designed to help you face your fear and step into the person you’re meant to be. 

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What is fear of failure?

Fear of failure isn’t necessarily the fear that you will ‘fail’ at a certain task. It’s the fear that you won’t meet the standards you have set for yourself or you will make mistakes. This fear stems from perfectionism and self-doubt which causes small tasks to feel scary.

For example, despite writing articles full-time for this blog and my freelance writing business, I still struggle with fear of failure, especially if it’s on a high-profile topic. My fear isn’t that I will fail it’s that I won’t write something ‘good enough’ or that it will be judged by others. 

Fear of failure is also known as ‘atychiphobia’ which is an intense clinically diagnosed fear of not succeeding. 

And while not everyone experiences it at a clinical level, fear of failure can hold you back from taking risks, trying new things or pursuing your goals with confidence.

What is the impact of being scared of failure?

If you struggle with fear of failure, you’ve probably experienced the perfectionism-procrastination loop. It’s a self-reinforcing cycle that starts with unrealistically high expectations for yourself and ends with feeling so overwhelmed by these standards that you avoid working on the task altogether. 

It sucks. 

You might eventually complete the task but only after you’ve left it to the last minute and blitzed it in an anxious-adrenaline-fueled rush. 

(I’ve lived this hell many times over.)

Here are some other things you might do:

• Stay in your comfort zone
• Avoid difficult tasks completely
• Overthink every decision
• Get defensive over valid criticism/ feedback
• Dodge responsibility
• Complain about feeling stuck in life

All of these things limit your growth and opportunities to develop into the person you’ve always wanted to be. You’ll stay stuck and disappointed in yourself for not even trying. 

Related Post: 5 Signs You’re Secretly Procrastinating and What To Do About It

Why these affirmations will help you

It all starts in the mind. Affirmations are a powerful tool for overcoming your fear of failure because they help you reframe your mindset and build resilience over time. 

The benefits of affirmation were known well before the science backed it up. For example, in the famous book Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill, affirmations were highlighted as a key practice for achieving success. This book has been credited by many highly successful people (such as Oprah Winfrey and Tony Robbins) for the reason for their success.

Here’s why they work:

• They align with self-affirmation theory. Affirmations help you reinforce your core values and sense of self-worth so that you feel more capable of stepping up to challenges

• They reprogram your negative thought patterns by interrupting the loop and replacing them with more empowering positive beliefs
• They use CBT techniques to identify and challenge your unhelpful thoughts

Related Post: 5 Quick Procrastination Hacks You Can Try Right Now

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Reframing Failure affirmations

1. Failure doesn’t scare me because I know I’m unstoppable when I decide to win
2. I don’t lose; I learn, and that’s why I’m always levelling up
3. I know I’m strong enough to handle failure. I’ll figure things out, just like I always do
4. It’s okay to fail because it means I’m stepping out of my comfort zone and challenging myself to grow
5. I am unstoppable because I know how to start again
6. Everyone who’s ever succeeded has failed along the way. I’m no different, and that’s inspiring
7. I’m proud of myself for taking risks because that’s what queens do. They go after what they want
8. Failure is just life’s way of teaching me something new. Next time, I’ll know better
9. It’s hard to see the lesson right now, but I trust that this failure is setting me up for something better
10. Mistakes are frustrating, but they show I’m trying. That’s better than staying stuck
11. I’m learning what works and what doesn’t work which is helping me grow as a person
12. Every “no” gets me closer to the “yes” I’m working for
13. I’m proud of myself for putting myself out there
14. Every challenge I face reminds me just how powerful I really am
15. I don’t compete with anyone but myself because my only goal is to be better than I was yesterday

Short affirmations 

16. I am capable and resilient
17. I embrace growth, not perfection
18. Every step I take leads me closer to success
19. I am stronger than my fear
20. Mistakes are lessons, not setbacks
21. I trust myself to figure things out
22. I am worthy of trying and failing
23. Fear does not define me
24. Success is on the other side of courage
25. I believe in my ability to overcome challenges

Letting go of control affirmations

26. I release the need to control everything
27. I trust the process and let go of the outcome
28. Perfection is not required to make progress
29. I allow myself to learn from imperfection
30. I don’t have to know all the answers right now
31. Uncertainty is a natural part of success
32. I surrender to the flow of life
33. Letting go makes space for better opportunities
34. I am at peace with things I cannot change
35. My worth is not tied to my ability to control outcomes

Dealing with uncertainty affirmations

36. I am adaptable and resourceful in any situation
37. Uncertainty holds endless possibilities
38. I thrive, even in the unknown
39. I trust myself to navigate challenges with ease
40. Each new day is an opportunity to grow
41. I embrace the adventure of not knowing
42. Change brings growth, and I welcome it
43. I focus on what I can control and release the rest
44. I trust my intuition to guide me
45. Every moment of uncertainty is a chance to build my strength

Success and worthiness

46. I am worthy of success, just as I am
47. I deserve to celebrate every small victory
48. My efforts are valuable, even if the results take time
49. Success is defined by my own terms
50. I have everything I need to achieve my goals
51. I trust that I am on the right path
52. I am deserving of love and success, regardless of outcomes
53. Every setback brings me closer to my next breakthrough
54. I am worthy of recognition and praise
55. My worth is inherent, not earned through accomplishments

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At school affirmations

56. I am here to learn, not to be perfect
57. Every mistake I make teaches me something valuable
58. I am proud of the effort I put into my education
59. Grades do not define my intelligence or worth
60. I am capable of achieving my academic goals
61. Learning is a journey, and I am growing every day
62. I give myself permission to ask for help when needed
63. I focus on progress, not perfection
64. I trust that I am doing my best, and that is enough
65. I am resilient in the face of academic challenges

Work and career affirmations

66. I am constantly learning and growing in my career
67. Every challenge at work is an opportunity to grow stronger
68. My value is not tied to my job title or salary
69. I contribute meaningfully to my team and workplace
70. I am capable of handling setbacks with grace
71. Taking risks helps me grow in my career
72. I am confident in my ability to solve problems
73. My worth is not measured by my productivity
74. I deserve recognition for my efforts and skills
75. I am building a career I am proud of, one step at a time

How to use these affirmations

Using affirmations correctly isn’t just about saying the words out loud and moving on with your life. You need to feel the words, tap into your subconscious mind and truly believe what you are saying.

I used to be anti-affirmations and thought they were crappy pseudo-science pushed by hippy-dippy people disconnected from the real world (harsh, I know) until I decided to try it out without judgement. 

Affirmations gradually changed how I saw myself and what I believed was possible. Speaking positivity into my life shifted my worldview, and made me realise life wasn’t so bad. 

I’m not saying, affirmations are guaranteed to change your life but I am saying, you should wholeheartedly give it a go and see how your world opens up.

Here’s what you should do:

• Pick one affirmation each day and repeat it in the morning, evening and throughout the day whenever you notice negative thoughts creeping in
• Write it down on post-it notes, in your bullet journal or add it to your vision board
• Look in the mirror and say it. Look yourself in the eye and say the affirmation like you mean it (with chest!)
• Or visualise the ideal version of yourself (the confident, self-assured version of yourself) and say the affirmations as if you’re already living that life
• Or visualise your 5-year-old version of yourself. Motivate them, comfort them and remind them how capable they are of achieving their dreams
• Build a routine by adding affirmations to an existing habit you have (e.g. saying them before you brush your teeth or during your morning coffee).

Conclusion

You don’t have to let fear of failure rule your life. You can take control by reframing your thoughts and speaking life into yourself. Stop accepting your negative thoughts as facts and start challenging them with affirmations.

Affirmations aren’t cheesy words that mean nothing, they are a reminder of how powerful you are right now. 

Whenever you feel scared of failure, remember you have bounced back from every mistake you’ve made in the past. Your mistakes make you stronger and more powerful because now you have evidence of what works and what doesn’t.

As Maya Angelou said ‘I did then what I knew how to do, now that I know better I do better’.

That’s all you can ask for.

So go out into the world, with the view to learn and grow from your failures because now you know your failures are not tied to your worth. 

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