Ep 71: Turning Fear Of Failure Into Fuel For Success with Anusha Merchant

Fear of failure can be paralyzing, but what if you could reframe it as fuel for success?

In this episode, we dive deep into transforming fear into power with our special guest, Anusha Merchant—a transformational coach who helps individuals break free from self-doubt and step into their most magnetic, confident selves. Anusha specializes in rewiring limiting beliefs, embracing authentic power, and showing up boldly in both personal and professional life.

🔹 How can you reframe failure as a stepping stone, not a setback?
🔹 What’s stopping you from stepping into your full potential?
🔹 How can you turn fear into action and confidence?

Anusha shares her powerful journey—from battling self-doubt and low self-esteem to confidently leading events, coaching others, and embracing her true self. Plus, she breaks down her step-by-step method to help you shift your mindset, take action, and own your inner power.

💡 Ready to overcome fear and unlock unstoppable success?
Tune in, take notes, and start stepping into your next-level self today.

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Transcript

Fear of failure can be paralyzing, keeping us stuck in self-doubt and holding us back from stepping into our full potential. But I always think about this—what if we could reframe failure as a stepping stone rather than a setback? Have you thought about that?

So in this episode, we are going to dive deep into transforming fear into fuel, using it as a powerful force to build resilience, inner confidence, and unstoppable success.

Let’s meet our expert today. She is Anusha Merchant, a transformational coach who specializes in helping individuals break free from self-doubt and step into their most magnetic, confident selves. With a focus on self-love and inner confidence, she empowers her clients to rewire limiting beliefs, embrace their authentic power, and show up boldly in their personal and professional lives. Anusha’s work is dedicated to guiding others in overcoming fear and unlocking the confidence they need to thrive.

Welcome to the show, Anusha.

Welcome to the show, Anusha. I’m so excited that you’re here today on Your Soul’s Transformation Podcast.

Thank you so much, Mho. It’s so great to be here. Thank you for inviting me. I’m so, so excited for the conversation today.

So Anusha, take us back if you can. I’d love for you to take us back to where it all started. What was life like before you stepped into coaching, and what really led you to this path?

I have had this calling to become a coach for the past five years. I really wanted to do something that empowers people. I’ve always done sessions in my community about empowering people to become their best selves, focusing on mental health, and I’ve gone through my own journey. As a child, I was very under-confident. If you told me when I was 8 or 9 that I’d be speaking on stages, doing podcasts, and having my own coaching company, I would have said, "No, I cannot do this."

But as time went on, I decided I didn’t want to have that identity anymore—the identity of a socially anxious person. I got a lot of opportunities, and I always had this call that I wanted to do this for other people. I saw so many women struggling with confidence and battling self-doubt, and I knew there was a real problem. I went through it myself. Even just a year ago, I had a phase where I went through a really dark breakup.

I thought I was confident. I truly believed I was. I wanted to open my coaching business before then, but when this all happened, I realized that something within me still needed to be healed. And when I did that inner work, I came to a realization—either I do it now, or I never will. I asked myself, "What’s the worst that could happen?" I took a leap of faith in myself, and here I am with my coaching business.

That’s an amazing story. So your childhood sounds like you were a shy girl then?

Very. I thought that was me. I was very, very shy. I also moved from Pakistan to the UK when I was 8, so I knew no English. It was very hard for me to settle in, to make friends, and to communicate. I wouldn’t even dance, even though I loved dancing. People could say anything to me, and I would just accept it.

I had very low self-esteem and doubted myself constantly. Until I was about 16 or 17, I was a completely different person.

Wow. So you moved from Pakistan to the UK, and thank you, by the way—you’re our first guest from the UK! Usually, I have guests from the United States, so I love the accent.

Can you share with our audience what it felt like to move to a brand-new country? Did you feel lost? Did you have doubts? What was that transition like for you?

Yeah, I mean, you leave your whole family behind, and you’re also trying to figure out who you are as a kid. I was very quiet in Pakistan, but when I moved here, I felt like I was constantly trying to fit in. I became a people-pleaser. I still remember my first day in the classroom—everyone was laughing at me. That moment is stuck in my head.

I thought, "I can’t make friends. People don’t like me." Even when I read aloud in class, people laughed, and I started to believe I couldn’t read properly. When you’re trying so hard to fit in and others project their insecurities onto you, it can really shape how you see yourself. I thought being shy and timid was just who I was.

Wow. So you were laughed at. That must have been so tough. Did you ever ask your parents for help, or did you feel like you had to deal with it on your own?

I wouldn’t say I was bullied, but I was laughed at, and it did affect me. Luckily, I had a very close family bond, so I always told my parents what was happening. I used to hate school. People loved school, but I dreaded it. My parents were supportive, but it was something I had to navigate on my own as well.

Over time, I settled in, made new friends in college, and found my way. But the beginning was very tough—new country, new culture, and trying to discover who I was at a young age.

I can relate to that. I moved to the United States when I was 15 and was put to work on day three in New York. I remember thinking, "Where am I? Why am I not in school?" That confused and humiliated feeling—I totally get it.

You mentioned that at 18, something changed. You said, "That’s it, no more." What happened?

I went to a community camp for the first time. It was an 11-day camp called Aloma. It was a big gathering—about 60 to 70 people from different countries. My campus leader told me, "You should go." I was unsure, but I took a leap of faith.

At first, I was terrified. I had palpitations, I was anxious, and I even cried. But as the days passed, I started speaking to people, participating in activities, and presenting in front of groups. And something clicked. I realized, "I actually like talking to people. I’m not who I thought I was."

That camp changed me. After that, social anxiety just disappeared. I became more confident, more open. People around me noticed, and my parents were shocked by the transformation. I started getting opportunities to lead events, speak on stages, and host gatherings. And I kept saying yes to new opportunities.

That’s incredible. You went from being a shy girl to confidently speaking on stages. But you also mentioned moments of self-doubt. What was the biggest fear holding you back?

Fear of failure. I failed some of my exams, and when I got a D in business studies, I thought my life was over. I felt like a failure. I thought, "What will happen to me? Will I ever be successful?" But my family reminded me that there were other ways forward.

I did a foundation year, and eventually, I graduated with a first-class degree. I realized that doubts and failures don’t define you. They are just part of the learning process. Even when I started my business, I had doubts. But I reminded myself, "You are made for more. Take the leap."

Doubts never go away completely, but you do it anyway. That’s how confidence is built—through action.

Oh, absolutely. Doubts are always going to be a part of everyone's journey. Even legends have doubts. They have fear, but they do it anyway. That’s amazing that you actually took that leap of faith and pushed through.

Can you recall what was the first breakthrough that made you realize fear could just be a tool instead of a limitation?

Good question. It could be a lot of different things, but I think one of the biggest moments for me was taking my first client. When I first started coaching, I kept thinking, "Can I really do this? Can I deliver for them?" It felt like such a big leap. But after delivering that session, I felt so good. I saw the result on my client’s face. They messaged me afterward, and that’s when I had the realization—fear is always going to be there, no matter what you do.

Fear exists because it's uncomfortable. Your body doesn’t know how to react, so it triggers fear as a defense mechanism. But if you don’t move past it, you’ll always live with regret. You won’t grow, and you won’t become confident. Confidence comes from taking action.

I always tell my clients, you can do affirmations, subconscious work, and reprogramming, but at the end of the day, confidence is built through action. You need to build momentum. The only way to feel like you’re growing is to take that leap of faith and do the thing you’re afraid of.

What’s the worst that can happen? You fail? So what? I don’t even call it failure. It’s learning. You learn, you improve, and you become better.

Absolutely. So how do you define inner confidence, and why is it such a game-changer in overcoming fear?

Inner confidence isn’t about being loud or being able to talk in front of people. It’s about how you feel inside. True confidence is knowing that you can walk into any situation and trust yourself. It’s the belief that you can handle anything that comes your way.

It’s not about what happens externally—it’s about your foundation. If you’ve done your inner work, released limiting beliefs, and shifted your mindset, you’ll have that solid foundation. No matter what challenges come up, you’ll know you can figure it out.

Nice. You talked about action, and I know so many people are afraid to take action because they feel like they might fail. What would you say to someone who feels paralyzed by fear?

Fear will always be there. But ask yourself, do you want to be in the same place five years from now?

I always ask my clients this when they set goals in their first session. What are the consequences of staying the same? If you don’t take action, what will happen?

Close your eyes for one minute. Imagine yourself five years from now—doing the same thing you’re doing today, stuck in the same situation. How does that feel? If the answer is not appealing (which I’m sure it won’t be), then you know you need to make a change.

The good news is you don’t have to jump straight into the deep end. Fear is like exposure therapy—you start small. If you want to change jobs, don’t think about quitting tomorrow. Just update your resume. Then apply to one job. Then network with one person. It’s about gradual exposure to your fear.

When you start taking small steps, you build momentum. And once you have momentum, fear starts to lose its grip.

That’s such great advice. I love how you emphasize personal responsibility—owning your life instead of letting circumstances control you.

Yes! Either you take responsibility for your life, or you let the world control you. Which one would you rather choose?

Absolutely. I want to touch on something else. There are so many misconceptions about confidence out there. What are some myths you’ve come across in your coaching?

One of the biggest misconceptions is thinking that just repeating affirmations will make you confident. People think, "If I just tell myself ‘I am confident’ every day, I’ll magically feel different."

But confidence isn’t just about positive thinking—it’s about action. You can say affirmations all day, but if you don’t address the deeper layers—like the subconscious fears, limiting beliefs, and childhood conditioning—it won’t work.

For example, procrastination isn’t just about being lazy. There’s usually a deeper belief behind it—like "I’m not enough" or "If I fail, I’ll be worthless." Until you address that, the procrastination won’t go away.

Interesting. So for someone listening right now who feels stuck in fear, what’s one small but powerful step they can take today?

First, write down your WHY. Why do you want to change? If your why isn’t strong enough, nothing will shift.

Then, make a decision. Decisions and intentions are incredibly powerful. When you decide, "I am done with this old version of me," something shifts in your subconscious.

Write down your old limiting beliefs. Tear up the paper. Declare, "I am done with this story." This small act signals to your mind that change is happening.

Then, take one uncomfortable action. Just one. When you break through that first fear barrier, you prove to yourself that change is possible. And once you take that step, it becomes easier to take another.

That’s so powerful! So first, clarify your why, then make a firm decision, and then take small daily steps toward your goal.

Exactly. When I was going through my breakup, I was in an identity crisis. I didn’t know who I was anymore. It was a very dark place.

So I visualized my future self every single day. I wrote down the version of me that I wanted to become—how she acted, how she spoke, what decisions she made. I read that every single day until I fully embodied it.

I told myself, "This is who I am now." I stopped playing the victim and started acting like the higher version of myself.

I also took myself on solo dates. I deepened my relationship with myself. Confidence isn’t just about how you show up externally—it’s about knowing yourself. If you don’t truly know yourself, how can you build confidence?

That’s amazing. You literally embodied your future self in the present. And of course, confidence is a work in progress—it’s not about feeling great every day.

Exactly. No one feels confident every single day. Even I have tough days.

But the difference is, I now have the tools to shift my state. When I feel low, I don’t let it consume me. I change my meaning, my language, and my movement.

Tony Robbins talks about this—there are three ways to shift your state:

1. Language – The words you use. Stop saying "I’m anxious" and instead say "I’m excited."
2. Meaning – The story you tell yourself. Stop thinking "I keep failing" and instead think "I’m learning and growing."
3. Movement – Move your body. Exercise, dance, or go for a walk.

When you master these three things, you can shift your energy instantly.

That’s so valuable. Thank you, Anusha! Where can our listeners find you if they want to work with you?

You can find me on Anusha Inspires on Instagram. I post regular content, and I’m launching a free journaling group soon. You can also DM me if you’re interested in 1:1 coaching.

Amazing! I’ll link Anusha’s information in the show notes. And to all our listeners, always remember: Metamorphosis, not medication.

If you have any questions or want to book a free 20-minute consultation, check out the links below. And if you loved this episode, please leave us a review on iTunes.

Thank you, and see you in the next episode!