Worried about failing? Here’s how to face the fear

We’ve all been there. An essay that didn’t live up to expectations, a relationship that ended, a job interview that didn’t go as planned, or a promise we couldn’t keep. Even with our best efforts, sometimes failure just happens.

If you found you didn’t get the exam results you wanted, here are three strategies to help turn things around:

Deal with the feels

  • Be kind to yourself
  • Give yourself some time out
  • Focus on self-comfort

Evaluate the situation

  • Do some detective work to find out what went wrong
  • Determine what you had control over
  • Talk to a classmate
  • Talk to course staff

Make a plan of action

  • Think about positive next steps to help improve your results – for example ask questions in classes and tutorials
  • Talk with support staff for their advice
  • Reframe how you think about failing

In short, remember that failure can be a stepping stone to success when it’s used well. Be kind to yourself, learn from your experiences, and do the things that help move yourself closer towards your goals.

If you would like to read more on the topic of fear of failure, check out the Wellbeing Support Page.

And as always, if you would like to talk to someone about this topic or anything else contact the teams below:

Wishing you all the best on your journey, UC Wellbeing team

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