Article - The Economics of Fear

http://theferrett.livejournal.com/1346357.html


Part of the message is hidden for the guests. Please log in or register to see it.


An interesting read...

Indeed. As father of a 'smart' 7 year old, I take pains not to fall prey to this mindset. Yes, he is smart. Yes, he is special, and a beautiful unique snowflake. But so are all his classmates.

I tell him honestly that he doesn't know everything, that he did this or that incorrectly, that he will learn but not right now. I hope that this helps him have a realistic viewpoint on the world, and to know that life sucks and then you die. Its inevitable.

Interesting, makes a lot of sense too.

That low grade fear of failure is indeed real and corrodes you from the inside. I remember I used to compete in archery, and what I really hated the most was the comments people made before a competition about how I was good and how I was going to win. I know they made them in order to cheer me up but the only thing it did was create tension, the fear of not fulfilling everyones expectations if I lost. The fear of not beeing good anymore, of loosing that status.

Nevertheless I went to the competitions and well, when I lost it was a bitter moment, not because of the loosing in itself but because of the feeling of having let everybody down, and having lost my status of a "good" archer. But when I won, it was worth it in every aspect.

So I agree whith the auhor of the text. That low grade constant fear is just economically ineficient and will only hold you back from really accomplishing something.

Furthermore, in the end it's not about the destination, but about the path you take.