What If You Try… and It Still Doesn’t Work? (EFT Tapping for Fear of Failure)
I remember sitting at my desk, staring at my computer screen, my mind racing with doubt.
“What if this doesn’t work?”
“What if I put in all this effort and nothing changes?”
“What if I fail, and I’m right back where I started but even more exhausted?”
I knew I needed to make a change. But every time I thought about taking a bold step; whether raising my rates, shifting my business, or finally putting myself out there in a bigger way the fear hit me like a tidal wave.
That fear wasn’t just in my head. In fact , it mostly wasn’t. I was able to keep logic and excitement for my next step. Instead, I felt it in my body. A weight that felt like chains dragging behind me, or trying to move through mud.
So I did what I always did—I pushed through, but at the same time waited. I researched more. I overanalyzed. I told myself I’d take “bolder" action when I was ready.
But all that analyzing never helped me feel ready. I was making great progress in life and my career, but slowly.
Then one day, I realized this fear wasn’t keeping me safe…It was keeping me stuck!
The Truth About Fear of Failure
Fear of failure isn’t logical—it’s deeply wired into us. That’s why I could logically push through to some degree but still not make the great steps I wanted.
Fear tells you that trying something new is dangerous. It makes you believe that staying where you are is safer than moving forward. (Enter my dragging chain feeling). It convinces you that if you fail, it will mean something about your worth.
But I want you to hear this loud and clear: Failure isn’t what we’re actually afraid of.
We’re afraid of what we’ll make failure mean about us; the interpretation of the meaning of fear. Maybe that we’re not good enough. Or we’ll look foolish. Or we’ll waste time, money, energy—and be worse off than before. For me, fear of being seen as greedy if I raised my rates. Fear of getting in trouble if I really put myself out there and was seen (it’s hard to not be in trouble a lot as a kid with ADHD and that fear of doing something and getting reprimanded is something to avoid).
But failure isn’t the enemy.
Fear is just energy trapped in our bodies. The key to moving forward isn’t just “thinking differently”… but physically releasing the fear!
Enter EFT tapping.
How EFT Tapping Helps You Release Fear & Move Forward
EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) helps you release fear, anxiety, and doubt at the root level. It works by tapping on specific acupressure points while acknowledging and shifting emotions, so your body stops clinging to fear as if it were a matter of survival itself.
I encourage you to try this tapping meditation…Just try it.
Notice whether it helps calm your nervous system, stops the overthinking, allows you to start trusting yourself, and most importantly, take action without fear keeping you paralyzed.
You may not notice dramatic shifts after the first session, but notice any shift from the beginning to the end. Over time, these small shifts will become significant changes.
You don’t just need to do mindset work to release fear. You need a physical shift that tells your body: “I am safe. I am ready. I can handle whatever happens.”
EFT Tapping: Releasing the Fear That "It Won’t Work"
How to Use This Tapping Session:
1. Find a quiet place
2. Take a deep breath
3. Tap along with the script
Take a moment and notice how strong the fear is on a 1–10 scale with 10 being strong. When you’ve got that number, let’s start.
Round 1: Acknowledging the Fear
Tapping on the Karate Chop Point; the Side of the Hand, say either out loud or in your mind:
- "Even though I’m afraid this won’t work, I deeply love and accept myself."
- Still on the side of the hand, "Even though part of me doubts I can do this, I choose to honor how I feel."
- One more time on the side of your hand, "Even though I feel scared of failing, I am open to shifting this fear."
Tapping on the Eyebrow: “I’m afraid this won’t work."
Tapping on the Side of the Eye: "I’ve tried things before, and they didn’t work."
Tapping Under the Eye: "What if I put in all this effort for nothing?"
Tapping Under the Nose: "I don’t want to waste my time."
Tapping on the Chin: "This fear feels heavy in my body."
Tapping on the Collarbone: “It’s making me hesitate to move forward."
Tapping 3 Finger Widths Under Armpit: "What if I fail and regret trying?"
Tapping the Top of Head: "This fear has been holding me back."
Deep breath in… and exhale.
Round 2: Releasing the Fear
- Tapping the Eyebrow: "What if this fear isn’t protecting me, but keeping me stuck?"
Tapping on the Side of Eye: "I am open to the idea that things could work out."
Tapping Under Eye: "I am allowed to release this fear."
Tapping Under Nose: "I am ready to trust myself."
Tapping the Chin: "I don’t have to be perfect to move forward."
Tapping the Collarbone: "I am capable of handling whatever happens."
Tapping 3 Finger Widths Under Armpit: "I choose to let go of the fear and embrace possibility."
Tapping on the Top of Head: "I am safe to take action."
Deep breath in… and exhale.
Round 3: Stepping Into Confidence
- Tapping on the Eyebrow: "I choose to trust myself."
Tapping on the Side of Eye: "I am more capable than I realize."
Tapping Under the Eye: "Everything is unfolding exactly as it should."
Tapping Under the Nose: "I am willing to take the next step."
Tapping the Chin: "I am shifting from fear to trust."
Tapping the Collarbone: "I believe in my ability to succeed."
Tapping 3 Finger Widths Under Armpit: "I know that I am supported."
Tapping the Top of Head: "I am ready. I am capable. I am stepping into my power."
Take one final deep breath in… and exhale.
Notice again how strong that fear is on a 1–10. There is no bad or wrong answer. Even if your number is the same or higher, all it means is we tapped into something powerful. Repeat this again either now or at another time.
Final Thoughts: Fear Won’t Win. You Will.
Fear will always try to keep you in place. It will whisper reasons to wait, hesitate, and overthink.
But please always remember:
You don’t need to be fearless. You just need to move forward anyway.
You are stronger than your doubts. More powerful than your fear. And completely capable of success.
How do you feel about tapping? Drop a comment below—I’d love to hear your experience.
And if you want more movement-based burnout recovery tools, keep an eye out—something powerful is coming soon!
Work less. Earn more. Feel alive again. Because you deserve it.
Your Next Step: Charting a New Course
You are not meant to be burned-out falling deeper into exhaustion. You are meant to be the captain of your dream.
So here’s my question: If burnout wasn’t a constant threat, what would your dream work-life look like?
If you’re ready to stop “just pushing through” and start building a career that actually supports YOU, I have a map that I will share with you.
Join the rebellion (aka my Facebook group) and start your burnout-free career today!
Or, if you’re ready to reclaim your purpose and feel excited about your work again, download my free guide to managing burnout and take the first step toward burnout-proofing your career!
The first step is always the hardest but also the most powerful. Which are you ready to take?