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Originally Posted by ThoughtAddict  My fear is rooted, I believe, in a deep-seated expectation of being excellent. I consider myself a good deal more intelligent than the average person (which is something that was reinforced in me through schooling) and find myself wary of situations in which I may look or feel foolish...... The fear and awkwardness are beginning to severly impact my life. Has anyone else dealt with a problem like this? If so, what concrete steps helped? The mental steps (e.g. "accept that it is okay not to be perfect") have failed miserably. |
Hi ThoughtAddict, you put way too much pressure on yourself.
Is it possible that you don't think you're as smart as others do? Maybe you're afraid of not meeting other people's expectations.
As far as conquering fears, the only way to do so is to face them. You have to be willing to be uncomfortable and awkward in new situations. No one
is perfect including you. The only way to master a situation is to practice it over and over until you become good at it and therefore comfortable with it.
You absolutely must be willing to step out of your
comfort zone if you want to succeed at anything. If that means feeling foolish sometimes, so be it.