ABSTRACT
There is a dynamic relationship between values and fear. When you dare to care about something, stakes become involved. Many of us are taught how to care, but not how to manage the fear associated with caring. Fear-based excellence brings fear to the foreground to kick-start the nervous system into action through over-control or avoidance. Does that mean when people flourish they are less afraid? No, they hold fear well. People who manage fear well understand that because of uncertainty fear will always accompany what is important to them. The objective is to keep fear in perspective so that values stay in the foreground. In this chapter, we discuss six strategies for managing fear of failure optimally. The goal of each of these strategies is to move fear into its sweet spot, where it keeps us alert but is not our primary driver.
