Why do I feel like I'm failing at everything?
Identity & Self-Worth
Feeling like you're failing at everything often reflects perfectionism and negative thinking patterns; focus on progress over perfection.
The feeling that you're failing at everything is a heavy burden that can crush your spirit and make it difficult to see any light at the end of the tunnel. This overwhelming sense of failure often stems from identity development/perfectionism-how-to-let-go" class="internal-link">fear of mistakes, unrealistic expectations, or a tendency to focus on what's going wrong while ignoring what's going right. It's important to understand that this feeling is not an accurate reflection of reality, but rather a distorted perception that can be challenged and changed. First, examine your standards. Are you holding yourself to impossible standards? Are you comparing your behind-the-scenes reality to other people's highlight reels? Often, the feeling of failing at everything comes from setting the bar so high that success becomes virtually impossible. Try to set more realistic, achievable goals and celebrate small wins along the way. Progress, not perfection, should be your measure of success. Next, practice self-compassion. Talk to yourself the way you would talk to a dear friend who was struggling. Would you tell them they're failing at everything? Or would you offer encouragement, remind them of their strengths, and help them see their situation more clearly? Treat yourself with the same kindness and understanding. Finally, focus on what you can control. There are many factors in life that are beyond our control, and trying to control them only leads to frustration and a sense of failure. Instead, focus your energy on the things you can influence - your attitude, your effort, your choices, and your responses to challenges. By shifting your focus to what's within your power, you can regain a sense of agency and start to see that you're not failing at everything - you're human, and you're doing the best you can with what you have.