Fear is something we all experience. It’s an emotion that can be triggered by a perceived threat, danger, or pain, whether real or imagined.

As kids, many of us feared monsters under the bed or in the closet. I know I did. I had nightmares about them, but eventually, I realized those monsters were only in my head.

So why was I scared?

And how do we experience fear?

It all starts in the brain, specifically in the amygdala, which sends signals throughout our body, preparing us for either fight or flight. It’s a defense mechanism that’s essential in emergencies—it helps us stay alive. While we should be grateful for it, it’s crucial to recognize when fear is simply a mental reaction rather than an actual threat, especially as adults.

As kids, our biggest fears might have been imaginary monsters. But as adults, fear often takes on a new form—fear of failure.

Fear of failure is the silent killer of our dreams.

Take Eugenio Pace, the co-founder and CEO of Auth0, as an example. Early in his career, Eugenio founded a startup that ultimately failed. The experience left him with a deep fear of failure. Instead of jumping back into entrepreneurship, he decided to play it safe, taking a job at tech giant Microsoft. It was a prestigious, stable position that gave him comfort, but after 13 years, he realized something was missing.

At the age of 42, Eugenio had a life-changing moment. He asked himself, “If I die tomorrow, would I regret anything?” That question led him to take the leap into the uncertain world of startups once again.

He founded Auth0, and today, it’s valued at over $1 billion.

Looking back, Eugenio realized that his fear of failure was all in his head. He now believes that failures are not something to dread, but valuable lessons. As he puts it, “Failures are NEVER a negative thing. They are information. The biggest regrets in life aren’t the failures, but the things we never tried.”

Do you let fear hold you back? Are you letting the fear of failure dictate your choices?

It’s time to recognize that fear is often just a mental barrier, not something that should control your decisions.