Play lots of games, make tons of errors, and slowly but surely, figure out what is and isn’t right in various positions. In other words, expect to lose countless games on the chess path. Weak minds and delicate egos avoid defeat by only playing people they can easily beat. These “I fear losing” folks will never improve. Those that are willing to have their ego battered about and who understand that losing is an integral part of the learning process will eventually rush right by the “I fear losing” guys.
-Silman