The Fear of Failure in a New Terroir

Migration often begins with courage: leaving behind the known in search of the unknown. Yet, beneath this bravery, many migrants carry a quieter companion—fear of failure; or more precisely, "The Fear of Failure in a New Terroir".

In the new country, every step can feel like a test. Speaking in a second language, applying for jobs, building friendships—each moment holds the risk of being misunderstood, rejected, or simply not “good enough.” The smallest setback may feel amplified, not only as a personal defeat but as proof that one does not belong.

Psychoanalytically, this fear is rarely only about the present. It often awakens older voices inside us—the inner critics, the childhood fears of disappointing others, the unconscious doubts about our own worth. In migration, these voices can grow louder, whispering: What if you fail? What if you prove everyone right who doubted you?

The pressure intensifies because failure abroad is rarely private. Many migrants carry the hopes of families back home. A lost job or an unfulfilled dream can feel like letting down an entire community. The fear is not just personal—it is collective.

Yet, fear of failure also carries possibility. It points to the deep human need for recognition and belonging. By working through this fear, we can begin to separate the old voices from the present reality, and learn to tolerate not being perfect. Therapy offers a space to explore these hidden anxieties, to understand where they come from, and to transform them into resilience rather than paralysis.

If you find yourself holding back out of fear that you will not succeed, remember: failure is not the end of the story. It can be the beginning of rewriting it.

If this struggle feels familiar, I would be glad to explore it with you in a therapeutic session.