Hey there, it's Michelle Porterfield, and I'm here today to talk about a topic that I know hits home for so many of us - the fear of failure.

I get it, the thought of putting yourself out there and potentially falling flat on your face can be downright terrifying. What if I invest in myself and nothing changes? What if I try and I fail? What if I'm just not good enough?

These are the kinds of questions that keep us stuck in old patterns, using busyness, wine, and other distractions to avoid the discomfort of growth. But here's the thing - staying stuck is already a form of failure in itself.

I want you to really sit with that for a minute. When we stay in our comfort zones, playing it safe, we're already failing at becoming the best version of ourselves. And that's not the life I want for you.

So let's talk about where this fear comes from. A lot of it can be traced back to our childhood experiences - things like perfectionist expectations, conditional love, harsh punishments for mistakes, and a lack of emotional support. These formative years shape how we perceive success, failure, and our own self-worth.

Maybe you grew up in a home where only perfection was praised. Or your love felt conditional, like you only got approval when you achieved certain things. Perhaps mistakes were met with anger or humiliation, teaching your brain to associate failure with danger.

These wounds from the past can manifest in all kinds of self-sabotaging behaviors as adults - avoiding challenges, obsessing over doing things perfectly, procrastinating, and feeling like an imposter when we do succeed.

But I'm here to tell you that failure is not the opposite of success. It's a necessary part of the journey. Think about a baby learning to walk - they fall down over and over, but does that stop them? Heck no! They just keep getting back up and trying again.

That's the kind of resilience and determination I want to see in all of us. Because the truth is, the path to becoming our best selves is never a straight line. There will be missteps, there will be setbacks. But those are just opportunities to learn, grow, and try again.

So how do we break free from this cycle of fear? It starts with reframing our mindset. Instead of seeing failure as this big, scary thing, we need to view it as valuable data - information that tells us what to tweak and try a new way.

And you don't have to do this alone. In fact, I'd love to support you on this journey. Whether it's through my podcast, my coaching program, or just a listening ear, I'm here to help you face your fears head-on and experience the freedom and fulfillment that comes with growth.

So what do you say - are you ready to start failing forward? If so, I invite you to reach out to me at [email protected]. Let's chat about where you're at, where you want to go, and how I can best support you in getting there.

The path to becoming your best self isn't always easy, but I promise it's worth it. I can't wait to see what you're capable of.

Cheers to facing our fears,