Such a person, when faced with a problem, tends to think, "I know I should take action, but it will be very difficult." When it is time to act, this kind of person tends to turn away. Someone who perseveres will rise to the challenge however, determining, "It will be very difficult, but I must take action."
Often the biggest obstacle in meeting life's challenges is actually our own fear of failure. But it is not failure that we should fear. The only real failure comes when we allow our fear to prevent us from taking on new and unknown challenges.
Just about every important figure in history has in fact lived a life marked by one mishap after another. But these individuals rose up again after every setback, prodded on by a spirit that refuses to concede defeat and relishes challenge, to eventually crown their lives with victory.
Even if you have problems, even if you have done things you regret, or have made mistakes, your whole future still lies ahead of you. If you can just keep moving forward, telling yourself, "I'll start from today," "I'll start afresh from now, from this moment," then a whole new world of possibilities will open up before you.