“Failure trauma” happens when life teaches you that failing – EVER - simply isn't acceptable. When you become afraid that failing at anything could cause you to become socially ostracized, lose your job, bankrupt your business, or hurt a client or patient.

When your brushes with failure lead to adverse reactions and important, negative consequences, your nervous system will start to overreact. It will constantly fire up with the fear that you might get it wrong. It will be on watch for danger as it tries to protect you. You will become constantly vigilant in a desperate effort to avoid a catastrophe.

There are all kinds of circumstances where it does make sense to be cautious and careful. But when you become obsessed with not failing, your fear of failure no longer protects you. It causes you to hold back, not try, be less creative, less engaged and less fulfilled.

In this episode I explain why the most successful people in business, and the people who advance most quickly in their careers, understand that failure is part of the journey.

It's a huge relief when you realize that failure can often be a good thing. In fact, failure can be your biggest teacher, help you connect better with other people, and take you closer to your dreams.