ATYCHIPHOBIA…

Dear beloved reader, it is I, your most inconsistent writer back at it again. Call me mgongo because I am back!!! From the tone, you can tell this isn’t the usual straight to the point blog, but rather, an attempt at putting my work out there once again. The last time we all met on the first time in my new webpage, we had a content calendar ready, and we had a series of blogs set-up but it is what it is. Let’s do a small catch up though, yes?

My current read is titled Women who think too much, I know most of you are in shock that I am reading non-fiction, leave alone self-develop books. I am guessing you can assume the depth of the pit I dug myself into that I needed a bunch of self-growth books to pull me out. One day I will just spam post all the blogs I have written that have not seen the publish button, because we have been writing, it is just the publish part that has been hell. Anyway, today’s blog is on ATYCHIPHOBIA.

Most of us dislike failure. Some of us fear failure. Personally, I am terrified of failure. Atychiphobia; an intense fear of failure. You are probably wondering why I am here with another fancy word but hey, stick around, I promise there is a plot here. When you are used to attaining certain levels of successes or achievements with minuscule efforts, failure seems like a strange concept. And just because life is life, at that very moment when you least expect it, the failure will pounce. Then you realize just how much it terrifies you. It is honestly like having a nightmarish, fever dream. (A specific one that creeps me out is the maze dream where you cannot get out).

I was speaking with a bunch of my peers (consent to share given), who revealed that while it may seem like they have their act together, they are honestly scared to the bone of failing. It is that rattling fear, I realized, that is holding so many of us behind from pursuing all the things we want to. Personally, I have written more than ten articles in the period that I have not published anything. However, I have been scared to the point of panic attacks. First, I have a whole website that is still work in progress and not even close to perfection that I need to work on. Then, a lot of little stuff here and there that have spiraled beyond control.

I know I cannot be alone, and that is why I share this. You cannot live in fear. As they say, it is better to have tried and failed than not tried at all. Your ideas are brilliant, your plans do not need that much refinement and there is no such thing as perfect timing. What the hell is holding you back then? Why the hell is it holding you back?

Atychiphobia, just like any other phobia is something you can overcome. Anguka nayo (anguka na the fear of failure, na hata ukianguka literally, kwani utadeady? Aje tu?).

There you go. Now you know why I have read four self-development books in three months. The review as to whether they work or not will come by the end of the year (kwa sasa, najaribu nisilale nkisoma; ama niende X kubrowse during reading time). As for you, there is no manual for overcoming fear or anxiety. There is no manual to ensure that you ultimately don’t fail. However, not trying = technically failing. (Reminds me of the lecturers who give you a zero if you do not sit for the CAT).

That’s all from me here. My anxious self is almost deleting this and not posting, but if you are here, hey, we finally posted. See you in the next. Yeah yeah, I am just flowing with this one. We shall be more structured in the future. Hydrate and smile!

Featured photo source: Image by freepik