Writers 
The first and perhaps most pervasive success roadblock is fear. Fear is the uneasy feeling that we are inadequate. It is an alarm that goes off when we feel threatened or suddenly feel incapable.
As I noted earlier in this book, fear is a major factor that keeps people from setting goals in the first place. Fear causes people to fail at what they could otherwise succeed at doing. Fear keeps people from the attainment of their goals.
I’m not talking about normal, natural fears, such as the fear of falling or the fear a child should have about walking out into busy traffic on a major highway. I am talking about a gripping, paralyzing fear that truly is a spirit of fear. Paul wrote to Timothy, “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Tim. 1:7).
Let me give you an example of this type of fear at work. A person is given a new position within a company or embarks upon a new vocational challenge. He believes strongly that this is what the Lord desires for him to undertake. He is excited about the challenge and believes that this new endeavor is a God given goal for his life. He begins his new tasks with confidence and enthusiasm.
And then he realizes that he doesn’t know everything there is to know to succeed in this new job or role. A huge mountain of unknowns rises up before him, which some might call a learning curve. He has more questions than answers. And the entire project or vocation suddenly seems insurmountable and overwhelming.
The more he struggles with not knowing what to do at every turn, the more he feels the criticism of others. He takes every comment to heart and agonizes over it. He feels as if he is a complete failure and he will never succeed at this new position.
Fear settles in. He becomes defensive and looks for excuses about why he is failing. He doubts his abilities and second guesses every decision.
Again and again he says, “I don’t have what it takes. I can’t do this. I am scared of taking any more risks. I don’t know which way to turn.” And the longer that trend in thinking goes unchecked, the more he moves into sheer panic until the day comes when he wants to flee completely.
In fleeing, he does one of two things. First, he may sit down in a form of paralysis and refuse to move, isolating himself from others and withdrawing emotionally. In that state, he can quickly become discouraged and depressed. Second, he may attempt to flee by quitting the new job and perhaps even moving from the city. Either way, fear wins out, and he does not accomplish God’s goal for his life.
When fear strikes you, face the fear head on. Ask yourself, What am I really afraid of? Break down the nature of your fear. Are you afraid of failure that will lead to criticism? Are you afraid of failure that will lead to rejection from someone you love or admire? Are you afraid that your weaknesses and inadequacies will be exposed? Are you afraid that others will withdraw from you or perhaps even punish you?
Admit the fears to yourself and to God. And at times, you may be wise to admit the fears to others. In confronting and admitting your fears, you are taking a major step in overcoming them.
Then turn immediately to the matter of your faith. Faith is the opposite of fear. It is the solution for fear. Do things that build up your faith.