i keep having these "epiphanies," only to realize later that they're common knowledge
Failures don't define a person.
You can fail something and not be a failure.
You can even fail lots of things and not be a failure.
What makes someone a failure is the pattern of failing, over and over, with no sign of changing. If you fail, modify your behavior and don't do it again. You can recover.
There is no reason to be afraid of failure.
As my daddy always says, give it your best effort and then move on with your life.
You can fail something and not be a failure.
You can even fail lots of things and not be a failure.
What makes someone a failure is the pattern of failing, over and over, with no sign of changing. If you fail, modify your behavior and don't do it again. You can recover.
There is no reason to be afraid of failure.
As my daddy always says, give it your best effort and then move on with your life.