First of all, realize what is it you want. Often enough you already have it in your head, you just don't care to look for it while your ego tells you that it's all going to be bad, just take a rest, relax, this can be done later blah, and blah, and blah some more. Sometimes, you don't have it yet: get looking. Try stuff out; keep what you like and ditch the rest. Given my lingustical affinity, I would never think that programming - basically, textual engineering - would be one of my passions, and yet it is. Who would have thought.

Then, understand that all you do is for you benefit. It will make your life better in some way at some point; sometimes, you can envision it, sometimes you can't. Don't mind that: if you can see that it's good for you - honest-to-yourself, no-long-term-harm good - then go for it. If you want to have it good, take responsibility for your successes and losses both, for you are responsible for it. Don't let this be your burden; instead, let it guide you towards making good choices, because you can, because you're capable of it. Utilize this capability; life will move on, and it's your choice whether to move your life into a better direction.

Things can be hard. Things will take work, and the better for you, the more work it will take. It's how it's supposed to be. Your ego, terrified of having to work, to provide effort, will scream in the loudest voice: "Abort! Stop! You're working, gal! What are you doing?! It's going to kill you, or worse!". Don't mind it: all the pain you experience is temporary; in a month, you won't even remember it while still reaping the benefits. That's how human mind works: right now - PANIC, soon enough - "huh - that was tough; good thing I did that". Keep that in mind and keep going.

Some things are way tougher than you'd expect. Some are a breeze once you apply yourself. You know how they say that the first step is the hardest? Half-true. From what I noticed about my own doings, things are as bad as we imagine it being. Sure, you can't make a tough challenge actually easier by thinking about it differently, but you can change your attitude towards it, and often, it makes all the difference. Say "I can make it", and you can make it. Say "I can't", and you're right.

Ego will pressure you into backing off from anything that seems even mildly challenging. Don't mind it. As a matter of fact, don't mind anything or anyone that will tell you that you can't make it. The only way to reliably test your ability is to challenge yourself to do something harder than you're used to. Other things are just perception.

The world won't break if you fail. Even your world won't. You'll gain experience, you'll gain insight; and sure, some assholes will laugh at you, but then - if they do, how does their opinion matter? Just go on, do your honest best, and if you fail - fuck it, so be it, there could have been no other way. At least you went out there and tried; ain't nothing more to it.

Hopefully, this all inspires you to take action, to achieve something - for a time. Then, you will hit the world again, and old conceptions of failure as the worst offence against humanity or somesuch will occur again. The best you can do about it is build a support network of people who will tell you to do it when you think you can't, that you won't. Everyone needs people in their lives who will say "Suck it up, my friend, stand up proud of yourself and go forth building your dream, because you're already as good as it gets". Find such people and be such a person, and might very well have a shot at achieving whatever you strive for.

Good like, my friend. May good winds blow your way.