These obstacles occur within all people at some point in their lives. For some, they are a barrier that prevents their ever achieving success, but for most people, they are merely temporary obstacles that may be overcome or circumvented. Just because an obstacle is overcome once does not mean it will not occur again. Sometimes life is a constant battle to overcome these obstacles. Sometimes it may require considerable energy to overcome an obstacle, especially if it has been with you for most of your life. Many times, it will take several tries before you overcome an obstacle. Just because you fail at your first or subsequent attempts does not mean you are a failure. It only means you have experienced a failure. There is a difference between experiencing a failure and being a failure.

We all have experienced and will experience failures during our lifetimes. Failure is the elimination of a route on while on the trip to success. There are many routes available to reach success. Failure helps us appreciate success even more. Failure is a learning experience that will only deter your goal of achieving success if you allow it to deter you.

Fear

Fear is the main reason most people are unable to achieve success. Fear is a feeling of inadequacy that is often accompanied by a feeling of being threatened. It may be so devastating as to paralyze a person. Fear establishes a perspective of failure and causes a person to visualize failure rather than success. Fear tends to reinforce itself to the point a person simply gives up trying. To defeat fear, we must first ask ourselves what we are afraid of:

• Are you afraid of failure? Everyone has failed at something at some time in their life. Just remember, it is one thing to fail and another thing to be a failure.

• Are you afraid of criticism? Only people of low character will criticize someone for failing, so their criticism should mean nothing to you. These are people who have accepted a low standard in their own lives and criticize others so that they may ease their own feelings of failure. Pay them no attention.

• Are you afraid of rejection? Rejection by whom? Those who matter the most to you will continue to have faith in you whether you fail or succeed. The rest do not really matter.

• Are you afraid to lose? Remember that losing a battle does not mean you will lose the war. Each loss gives you more experience and insight so that you may succeed on your next try.

If you are afraid of failure, you will avoid competing in tournaments. The fear of losing will deny you the thrill of ever winning.