Does Your Weakness Win?

By Byron Pulsifer, (c) 2011

Do you have a weakness? Almost everyone that I know has a weakness of some sort or another. Some of these weaknesses do not interfere with their normal life. For example, one person may have a weakness in that they are terribly afraid of heights and so that no matter what needs to be done that requires even two steps up on a step ladder is not done. But, does this really cause them a great deal problems? Well, that may depend on what they do for a living, or what the situation is.

If this person is a house painter, then the inability to climb a ladder to paint high ceilings, or the outside of a house,
would be a major drawback and unlikely that they would get many jobs.

For many others, being afraid of heights is only an inconvenience that requires the friendly assistance of a spouse to climb the ladder, or a neighborhood friend who can drop over on short notice.

In other situations, some people claim to have a weakness that prevents them from taking a risk to get ahead, or to find a new job, or to acquire a new skill. Is this a weakness or a fear of failure?

Most of us prefer to know what we face because the unknown is unmapped territory. This is somewhat like avoiding traveling to different countries because you are unsure of the customs, or the type of accommodations available, or a reluctance to attempt a few words in a foreign language. Is this a fear to leave your comfort zone; a zone where you know everything that is required from the customs, language, to the spots to avoid to stay away from hooligans.

For some, a weakness may be a phobia that is realistic for them but unrealistic to others. For example, a fear of going outside is a real fear for some, and this condition is called agoraphobia. Now, psychotherapy, and hypnosis, or drugs in other cases can treat this condition. But, what about when the fear of failure dominates your life? How is it treated, or what can be done so that this belief does not cause unrealized dreams to be a dominant partner throughout life?

The best-known cure for the fear of failure is action – that’s right, action. The aspect of taking action helps to quiet nerves and can lead to even minor accomplishments. Take for example the fear of failure if you have been asked to speak in front of a number of people. This speaking request can be as simple as speaking at a wedding as the best man or bridesmaid, or speaking to a group of fellow employees about a new project.

The first action in this case, is to prepare a written speech or comments. Once you are happy with what you have written, the next action is to practice your remarks out loud over and over again until you can recite your comments in your sleep. The next action is to deliver your comments in front of family members – this is a safe audience and gives you an opportunity to see if you make any mistakes. Action is the key. Take action as your own special mechanism to overcome fear. Do not let a weakness win – you can overcome and win.


"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters. . . compared to what lies within us."