Casting out the fear of failure: Learning a new skill can be daunting

By the lake with a hard-bodied paddleboard on the roof of a 4x4 vehicle, with a cast-net and backup fishing rod displayed on the deck.

Entering a new level of incompetence can be daunting because the fear of failure seems ingrained in adult life. Imagine if toddlers feared failure – they might never learn to walk.

As adults, indulging this fear is a path to stagnation; we end up sticking only to what we’re good at and stop learning new things.