Fear is an emotion and fear is real. We have all experienced fear at different times in our lives due to different stimuli. Fear is most often felt in response to perceived threat, and our survival response to it is one of three: to flee from such a threat, stand and fight, or simply become paralysed by the threat  (flight, fight, freeze response). Anxiety connects into fear when there is no present physical threat, it is generated internally by an individual.

We can feel fear about future events, events over which we have no control - one such future fear is that of failure. It is an understandable fear in a culture where failure is perceived as "bad thing" to be avoided. Fear of failure paralyses us into choosing to stay where we are. It is a fear which  prevents us from reaching out and acting or making choices/decisions, which may be difficult, but could bring which them positive changes. Instead we choose what we know, even though it may not be good for us or even working for us.

Sometimes, it  may be that we are actually waiting for permission from someone else before we take a hold of change. Then, should failure actually happen we are not solely responsible for or to blame for the failure. However, permission seldom comes and so it leaves us with a choice: to choose to be stunted by fear or face our challenges/ hopes/ dreams and be responsible for the failure that may come but the failure which may also be a mechanism for learning and growth in our lives.

Something to think about - "Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. The fearful are caught as often as the bold." ~Helen Keller