The truth is, "no" doesn't mean we are a bad person or doomed to failure. It's not evidence of a conspiracy against us by the fates or proof that our parents/teachers/siblings were right about us and we never will amount to anything. It just means "not yes." That's it. "Not yes."

Why would someone make the choice to be miserable? Because it is often a way of getting attention and of attempting to get someone else to be responsible for them. If this is what you want, here is a roadmap to make sure you accomplish your goal!

So, why are we so afraid of failure? What about the very concept of not turning out to be the winner terrifies us and stops us from even trying?

You can use the various situations in your life to make yourself stronger and better, or you can sit and cry. This is the choice you have. If you have set your life up to experience growth and well-being, everything in life becomes beneficial.

Failing is the easy part -- it's how you handle failure that will either stop you or allow you to move forward in your life, your career and your relationships.

Have you ever thought: They made a mistake and actually confused me with someone else much more qualified? Or had the feeling that even if they meant you, it will only be a matter of time before they realize you are a fraud?

For me, the fear of nonperformance, the fear of failure, the fear of not living up to expectations (my own, more than anyone else's) is what I consider to be my biggest in life. I can attribute a lot of my personality traits and obsessive behaviors to this fear.

In the course of writing my upcoming book, The Fear Project, again and again I've been seeing people -- very capable, smart people -- not even attempting their great ideas for one reason: They're afraid of failing.

Next time you find yourself wanting to criticize someone else as a way to make yourself feel better, think like an Olympian and rise above the rest. Conquering your fears isn't about making yourself look better than others; it's about making you the best you can be.

In 2008, New Zealand runner Nick Willis won Olympic silver in the 1500m. On August 3, 2012, he will compete in that same event at the 2012 London Olym...

Imagine a world where nothing could possibly go wrong. Think of all the things that we could accomplish if we were not afraid of failing.

Memories of that first job help me with my "firsts" to this day. Whenever I'm the new girl, I think back to that first terrifying shift at Long John's when I felt so totally at sea (har!), and then I fast-forward to how quick and efficient I was at the end of my Long John's tenure. If you do something once, you can definitely do it again.

People agree that some fears are more debilitating than others. It's as if different fears carry different "fear weight."