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| Exercise and Physiology Information Fear
of Fitness Failure
Probable translation: “Why bother trying?... I am going to fail anyway.” Fear of failure is a blanket term that covers a wide range of fears such as fear of: risk, criticism, looking foolish, pain, sacrifice and losing. Failing is a downer. Why start if you might fail? Well,
for starters, maybe we can pinpoint or pigeon hole what is so
bad about failing? Is it the finger pointing and “I told
you so” lectures from peers? Is it embarrassment? Criticism?
If we can identify the exact fear, then we have a better chance
of overcoming that fear. Usually, there is a fear of criticism.
I have to admit, too often at a gym, people do make fun of awkward
beginners. One method of dealing with fear of fitness failure is to envision the best outcome, the worst outcome and then a realistic outcome. Suppose you want to take up cross-country skiing or ball room dancing. In the best scenario you envision yourself as a national skiing champion, traveling the world or a professional dancer, attending exotic ballrooms. In the worst scenario, you might imagine yourself falling down repeatedly on your skis or breaking a leg and left to freeze to death or be set on by ravenous wolves. As an awkward dancer, you might be ridiculed by the instructor and avoided by the other students. You break a heel during your final test and you hobble out of the auditorium a complete disgrace and your photograph is sent all over the world to every dance studio to avoid you as a student. Now, realistically, you are going to gain some skill in either activity. As a skier, you will eventually be able to cover several kilometers without tiring or taking a tumble. You might even meet some cool people and see some nice country. As a ballroom dancer, you are going to at least learn the basics and be able to make your way around a dance floor. In both instances, you are getting something of value for your time and money. Fear of failure also involves a certain amount of perfectionism. It is an all-or-nothing mentality. You are either Canada’s hope at the Olympics or an undisciplined slob. You are either the perfect human specimen or a threat to the entire gene pool. Every workout must be a total perfect work of art in motion or it is a complete waste of time and you stole precious gym time (and oxygen) from someone more worthy. The fact is that there are all sorts of different types of fitness as there are body types. Another fact is that most fitness buffs have workouts that range from fantastic, history-making training to the painfully, dull secession that should never be spoken about in public. But, like work, you have to do it to get results. One more thing about fear in general is that you can use it to your advantage. It can be a stimulus to get something done. It can also be used as leverage to get something done. (Do it or else!) Finally, if you feel fear holding you back from your fitness goals, remember the old adage:
Don’t worry about what’s ahead.
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A
lady once walked out of a beginner pilates class commenting: “Work
for a flat stomach? Well, that’s liposuction is for.”