This week's link up is hosted by Stephanie (who just finished the IronMan yesterday AMAZING) at Athlete at Heart.
Atychiphobia is the abnormal, unwarranted, and persistent fear of failure, a type of specific phobia. As with many phobias, atychiphobia often leads to a constricted lifestyle, and is particularly devastating for its effects on a person's willingness to attempt certain activities.
Why do we accomplish things and then all of a sudden we slide backwards so far we never feel like we can go forwards again? This is something I have thought about over and over again. I lose weight, things are going smoothly and BAM I quit and gain back. I get into an amazing exercise routine and BAM, I quit and have to begin again. Why do I do this?
Well, I really think it is a fear of failure. When I was googling graphics for this post, I came across this big word and it's definition:
I honestly believe that I am so afraid of failing, that I might as well not try. If I don't even try, I can't fail, right? I hate the feeling of failing at anything. It is like an anxiety attack when I can't do something, Even at the gym with my trainer, I get teary eyes if I cannot do something he asks me to do. Silly, right? But it is me, and I am sure it is some of you as well.
I know I have to work on this and I have a counseling appointment today so I plan on asking for some advice on how to work on this. I know in my brain that I only fail if I truly quit and give up, but I can't tell the other parts of me that.
I really have no answers for today's post. I am working so hard on learning to like myself and to put myself out in situations that challenge my anxiety. I am trying to reflect on the why?
Why do I bully myself?
Why am I so afraid of what others think of me?
Why, why, why?
I am slowly searching for those answers and I will try to share all my ramblings as I find them.
So, I am leaving you with these amazing quotes I found today. A few nuggets for thought on the fear of failure:
I am working on journaling an answer to the last question. So I ask you:
What would you attempt if you knew you would not fail?
Sending you all love and healthy wishes!
Keep Losing.
Kari
Great post!
ReplyDeleteIf I wasn't afraid to fail I would move to a great big city, move to a high rise in downtown, and soak up all the culture and season. I could also easily sell everything and travel the world. I guess, if I weren't afraid to fail, then I would spread my wings and fly.
This is SO true! I need to think about that last question. I think the answer is quit my job but I don't know what I'd do instead! Thanks for giving me something to really ponder.
ReplyDeleteI worry about failing even as I am doing it. Or even as I am succeeding. I worry about it all the time and it often keeps me paralyzed. Sometimes fear is the only comfort/control we seem to have.
ReplyDeleteIf I knew I couldn't fail, I'd pursue my yoga teaching certification along with a curvy yoga specialization, and I'd offer free community classes to anyone who wanted to pursue greater health through movement.
ReplyDeleteExcellent thought provoking post. I also need to think about this. I kind of want to switch it around. If I could guarantee success what would I do? If I could guarantee success, I would follow a good eating plan every day until I succeeded as long as I knew it would work, right now, it is just too far off and there are too many fails for me to want to keep it up the way I should I think.
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