Every opportunity in life comes with two things: the possibility of succeeding, and the possibility of failing. When you reach the end of your life, your greatest regrets won’t be over your failures, but the opportunities you failed to seize because you were afraid of failing. So here are some principles to help you conquer the fear of failing:

1. Be willing to try and fail at something. And when it happens, tell people. Why? Because that’s how you discover failure isn’t fatal.
2. Find a project so big that you cannot do it without someone’s help, then commit to it.
3. Socialise with some impulsive types. Observe how they take risks without dying. Seeing and imitating is a great way to learn.
4. The way we learn to take big steps is by taking small steps. Compliment someone you don’t know (or someone you do know who has done exceptionally well). Volunteer for an additional task at work (or at band). Go out of your way to help someone in need.
5. Declare war on perfectionism. Instead of waiting until you can do it perfectly, do your best and tell yourself, ‘That’s good enough for now.’
6. Be afraid but give it a go anyway. You will never totally defeat your fears, but you can diminish them to where they have less control of your life.