Why are we so afraid of failure? Why do we worry about the approval of others? Shouldn't our own opinions and thoughts be the only ones that matter? I am afraid to fail, but am I more afraid of failing myself or my parents? My parents have high expectations and set standards. I always try to live up to them, but if I do one small thing wrong, I'm afraid of their disappointment in me. I do not want to be thought of as a failure, I do not want to do wrong. Why are these expectations so difficult to live up to? Is it I who is not putting up enough effort or is it that these expectations are simply out of reach? To me, they are not out of reach. They aren't because others can accomplish them. This entire matter relates to comparing oneself to another. Should I not compare myself to others? But if I don't, where do I set the standards for myself? All of this seems so complicated. In the end, all I know is that I don't want to fail. But how can I do that when I don't understand what complete failure is? I am definitely not saying that I am perfect, but what do I think of as failing? What do my parents think failure is? Is it simply not reaching a goal? It may be hard for me to understand, but I know that I will try harder from now on. I don't know if I will succeed, but will continue to try. I will also want the approval of my parents, because what they think is important to me. As long as I try, I don't think that I will fail in my own eyes and I want that to be the only thing that matters.