Understanding Fear of Failure Symptoms
Fear of Failure Symptoms
Imagine this: you’ve just achieved a significant accomplishment and while everyone around you is celebrating your success, you notice a sense of doubt and insecurity creeping in. You may think “what if this was just luck?” “What if I can’t replicate this again?” The fear of failure symptoms often disguise themselves as self doubt, which robs you of the sense of accomplishment and pride.
In a world that celebrates success, the fear of failure can easily be weaved into our lives, especially for high achieving Black and brown women. The pressure to excel in every aspect of life can sometimes lead to a profound fear of failure. If you're reading this, chances are you’ve felt the weight of this fear. Just know that you are not alone. Let’s explore the subtle yet impactful symptoms of the fear of failure that may be affecting you more than you realize
Perfectionism:
Perfectionism is the pattern of setting excessively high standards, being overly critical of your own performance and feeling a constant need to be flawless and make no mistakes. Perfectionism may seem like a positive quality but when it’s paired with the paralyzing fear of imperfection, it can hinder growth and perpetuate anxiety and self doubt.
Procrastination:
Procrastinating is delaying tasks or avoiding them altogether due to fear of not meeting expectations. You may postpone a project until the last minute because you’re too preoccupied with the fear that it won’t be good enough. Procrastination becomes a way to avoid the discomfort associated with facing your own expectations and perceived judgment of others. The issue with procrastination is that you end up not giving yourself enough time to do a quality job, which only fuels the anxiety and self doubt.
Self Criticism and Low Self esteem:
You may notice that you are often second guessing your abilities, have a diminished sense of self worth, constantly comparing yourself to others and have consistent critical, self deprecating thoughts about yourself. The fear of failure can feed your inner critic. Your inner critic may often amplify your shortcomings and diminish your achievements.
As high achieving Black and brown women, the fear of failure can be so harmful, impacting your emotional and mental wellbeing. Recognizing these symptoms is the first step towards reclaiming your worth and finding balance. If you find yourself resonating with these symptoms, know that you don’t have to navigate it all on your own. Seeking therapy can be an incredible support to navigate these feelings. I invite you to book a consultation call with me today to explore how I can support you in navigating the complexities of perfectionism, anxiety and burnout.
