---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If I'm looking back, I'm going back…"
description: "\"If I'm looking back, I'm going back. That's anxiety and that's not beneficial to me winning a UFC title, that's for damn sure.\" — Jared Cannonier"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c4/jared-cannonier-6014_anxiety_if-i-m-looking-back-i-m-going-back-that_3142604.jpg"
---

#  If I'm looking back, I'm going back. That's anxiety and…

![“If I'm looking back, I'm going back. That's anxiety and that's not beneficial to me winning a UFC title, that's for damn sure.” quote by Jared Cannonier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c4/jared-cannonier-6014_anxiety_if-i-m-looking-back-i-m-going-back-that_3142604.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c4/jared-cannonier-6014_anxiety_if-i-m-looking-back-i-m-going-back-that_3142604.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c4/jared-cannonier-6014_anxiety_if-i-m-looking-back-i-m-going-back-that_3142604.jpg)

> “If I'm looking back, I'm going back. That's anxiety and that's not beneficial to me winning a UFC title, that's for damn sure.”

[Jared Cannonier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-cannonier/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Dwelling on past failures fuels anxiety and hinders future success, especially in high‑stakes competition.

**In simple terms:** Thinking about past hurts creates anxiety and blocks winning.

Key Takeaway

Focus on present and future goals.

Themes

anxiety competition mindset

Mood

determined intense

Type

motivational sports

When to use this quote

- sports training
- mental preparation
- goal setting
- career planning

Key Concepts

psychology performance self‑talk

Questions to Reflect On

- How does anxiety affect your performance?
- What strategies keep you present?

A Different Perspective

Past focus can undermine confidence.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Anxiety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety/) [Anxiety Beneficial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety-beneficial-5606931/) [Going Anxiety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going-anxiety-2481703/) [Looking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looking/) [Looking back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looking-back/) [Me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/me/) [UFC](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ufc/) [Ufc Title](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ufc-title-968825/) [Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning/) [Winning Ufc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning-ufc-5500780/) [Wrestling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrestling/)

## Related quotes

> [Winning my first UFC fight by a finish, I've never felt so accomplished in my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paige-vanzant/winning-my-first-ufc-fight-by-a-finish-i-ve-never-felt-so/)

[Paige VanZant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paige-vanzant/)

> [All I have to do is be the best version of myself. And that's going to be enough to fight and win a UFC…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-cannonier/all-i-have-to-do-is-be-the-best-version-of-myself-and-that-s-going-to/)

[Jared Cannonier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-cannonier/)

> [Can anyone tell me what Jon Jones was ranked when he fought for the UFC title? No one knows. I believe, in that aspect,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamaru-usman/can-anyone-tell-me-what-jon-jones-was-ranked-when-he-fought-for-the/)

[Kamaru Usman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamaru-usman/)

> [I don't know if I will take the UFC title, but I will die trying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mirko-cro-cop/i-don-t-know-if-i-will-take-the-ufc-title-but-i-will-die-trying/)

[Mirko Cro Cop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mirko-cro-cop/)

> [I became the first Brazilian women to win a UFC title. That is huge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-nunes/i-became-the-first-brazilian-women-to-win-a-ufc-title-that-is-huge/)

[Amanda Nunes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-nunes/)

> [My plans are to avenge my loss against Volkan Oezdemir and get the UFC title.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimi-manuwa/my-plans-are-to-avenge-my-loss-against-volkan-oezdemir-and-get-the/)

[Jimi Manuwa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimi-manuwa/)

> [When I was younger, I think that I felt like I could only live one way, and I had to figure out which of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-heti/when-i-was-younger-i-think-that-i-felt-like-i-could-only-live-one-way/)

[Sheila Heti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-heti/)

> [When I was younger, there weren't many people that were open about going through anxiety, so I never knew how to deal with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lexi-underwood/when-i-was-younger-there-weren-t-many-people-that-were-open-about/)

[Lexi Underwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lexi-underwood/)

> [I went to the UFC and won the UFC title.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-rodrigo-nogueira/i-went-to-the-ufc-and-won-the-ufc-title/)

[Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-rodrigo-nogueira/)

> [There will always be something down there that says, 'All right, you won the Bellator title but you never won the UFC title.' I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-bader/there-will-always-be-something-down-there-that-says-all-right-you-won/)

[Ryan Bader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-bader/)

> [I don't think we can fully understand just how much pressure is on these fighters' shoulders once they win the UFC title. It's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-helwani/i-don-t-think-we-can-fully-understand-just-how-much-pressure-is-on/)

[Ariel Helwani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-helwani/)

> [I went through UFC with five title defenses. Jonny 'Bones' Jones beat my record, so I'm trying to beat his record. That's my goal.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tito-ortiz/i-went-through-ufc-with-five-title-defenses-jonny-bones-jones-beat-my/)

[Tito Ortiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tito-ortiz/)

> [I know that Europe's wonderful, yet something seems to lack;The Past is too much with her, and the people looking back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/i-know-that-europe-s-wonderful-yet-something-seems-to-lack-the-past/)

[Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/)

> [I don't spend much time looking back at what happened. I do remember it, but I don't see any purpose of wanting to look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amitabh-bachchan/i-don-t-spend-much-time-looking-back-at-what-happened-i-do-remember/)

[Amitabh Bachchan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amitabh-bachchan/)

> [I'm just always looking forwards. I spend very little time, looking backwards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-vaynerchuk/i-m-just-always-looking-forwards-i-spend-very-little-time-looking/)

[Gary Vaynerchuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-vaynerchuk/)

## More by Jared Cannonier

> [I have a lot of fun working and training and learning and trying to figure out the different aspects of my craft.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-cannonier/i-have-a-lot-of-fun-working-and-training-and-learning-and-trying-to/)

[Jared Cannonier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-cannonier/)

> [I don't have sponsors or anything like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-cannonier/i-don-t-have-sponsors-or-anything-like-that/)

[Jared Cannonier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-cannonier/)

> [I'm not going to sit here and judge anybody based off of what they do, based of their upbringing, their experiences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-cannonier/i-m-not-going-to-sit-here-and-judge-anybody-based-off-of-what-they-do/)

[Jared Cannonier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-cannonier/)

> [The only thing that concerns me is getting better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-cannonier/the-only-thing-that-concerns-me-is-getting-better/)

[Jared Cannonier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-cannonier/)

> [I'm not gonna sit here and say that I'm the best. But I will say that I am continuing to get better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-cannonier/i-m-not-gonna-sit-here-and-say-that-i-m-the-best-but-i-will-say-that/)

[Jared Cannonier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-cannonier/)

> [I'm happy to have the challenge that Israel is going to bring. I expect it's going to bring a different level out of me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-cannonier/i-m-happy-to-have-the-challenge-that-israel-is-going-to-bring-i/)

[Jared Cannonier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-cannonier/)

> [Improvement is an ongoing process for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-cannonier/improvement-is-an-ongoing-process-for-me/)

[Jared Cannonier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-cannonier/)

> [I sweat real easy. I sweat very easily.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-cannonier/i-sweat-real-easy-i-sweat-very-easily/)

[Jared Cannonier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-cannonier/)

> [You're going to have to watch me to know how I do my thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-cannonier/you-re-going-to-have-to-watch-me-to-know-how-i-do-my-thing/)

[Jared Cannonier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-cannonier/)

> [Anybody is capable of finishing anybody. In this sport anybody is capable of getting a finish. That's only a matter of how. Can we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-cannonier/anybody-is-capable-of-finishing-anybody-in-this-sport-anybody-is/)

[Jared Cannonier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-cannonier/)

> [My focus is training and being better every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-cannonier/my-focus-is-training-and-being-better-every-day/)

[Jared Cannonier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-cannonier/)

> [It feels good to know that I only lost to the cream of the crop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-cannonier/it-feels-good-to-know-that-i-only-lost-to-the-cream-of-the-crop/)

[Jared Cannonier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-cannonier/)

> [The only thing people can do when they get on top is hold me down. As soon as they gain leverage to land some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-cannonier/the-only-thing-people-can-do-when-they-get-on-top-is-hold-me-down-as/)

[Jared Cannonier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-cannonier/)

> [I don't care what people say. I don't care what people do. As long as they are not getting in the way of me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-cannonier/i-don-t-care-what-people-say-i-don-t-care-what-people-do-as-long-as/)

[Jared Cannonier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-cannonier/)

> [Jack Hermansson is a tough guy; we know what he likes to do and that's what I have to prepare for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-cannonier/jack-hermansson-is-a-tough-guy-we-know-what-he-likes-to-do-and-that-s/)

[Jared Cannonier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-cannonier/)

[Explore all 100 Jared Cannonier quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-cannonier/)

## More Anxiety quotes

> [“Anything that you find yourself worrying about regularly may find you suddenly wanting unrealistic changes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nagisa-tatsumi/anything-that-you-find-yourself-worrying-about-regularly-may-find-you/)

[Nagisa Tatsumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nagisa-tatsumi/)

> [Bein Crazy is the least of my worries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/bein-crazy-is-the-least-of-my-worries/)

[Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/)

> [The answer to deep anxiety is the deep adoration of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/the-answer-to-deep-anxiety-is-the-deep-adoration-of-god/)

[Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/)

> [“Fear of seeing a police car pull into the drive. Fear of falling asleep at night. Fear of not falling asleep. Fear of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-carver/fear-of-seeing-a-police-car-pull-into-the-drive-fear-of-falling/)

[Raymond Carver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-carver/)

> [I get nervous when I don't get nervous. If I'm nervous I know I'm going to have a good show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beyonce-knowles/i-get-nervous-when-i-don-t-get-nervous-if-i-m-nervous-i-know-i-m/)

[Beyonce Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beyonce-knowles/)

> [“Every invention comes through anxiousness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakesh-wadhwani/every-invention-comes-through-anxiousness/)

[Rakesh Wadhwani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakesh-wadhwani/)

> [“Do Not Be Anxious 25 e “Therefore I tell you,  f do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-not-be-anxious-25-e-therefore-i-tell-you-f-do-not-be-anxious-about/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Nothing happens on its own, you have to make things happen. If you really want to come out of your stressful situation than you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/subodh-gupta/nothing-happens-on-its-own-you-have-to-make-things-happen-if-you/)

[Subodh Gupta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/subodh-gupta/)

> [“I guess if we're talking about my anxiety, the even truthier truth is it started way before that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-winfrey/i-guess-if-we-re-talking-about-my-anxiety-the-even-truthier-truth-is/)

[Kerry Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-winfrey/)

> [I was a very good student. Procrastinating gives me anxiety, and getting a B really ticked me off. Sure, I didn't always want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-loren/i-was-a-very-good-student-procrastinating-gives-me-anxiety-and/)

[Josie Loren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-loren/)

> [“The suspense: the fearful, acute suspense: of standing idly by while the life of one we dearly love, is trembling in the balance; the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/the-suspense-the-fearful-acute-suspense-of-standing-idly-by-while-the/)

[Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/)

> [The party in Alobar’s head, which agitation and anxiety were throwing, now was crashed by a notion: existence can be rearranged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-party-in-alobar-s-head-which-agitation-and-anxiety-were-throwing/)

[Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/)

> [As you know, I have been very open about my struggle with social anxiety.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/summer-walker/as-you-know-i-have-been-very-open-about-my-struggle-with-social/)

[Summer Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/summer-walker/)

> [Anxiety is not to be managed it is a sin that needs to be repented of](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-driscoll/anxiety-is-not-to-be-managed-it-is-a-sin-that-needs-to-be-repented-of/)

[Mark Driscoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-driscoll/)

> [“I’ve always seen this in you, ever since you were a little girl — this hunger to love other people into their highest selves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-elisabeth/i-ve-always-seen-this-in-you-ever-since-you-were-a-little-girl-this/)

[Jennifer Elisabeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-elisabeth/)

[Browse all 4,944 Anxiety quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "If I'm looking back, I'm going back. That's anxiety and that's not beneficial to me winning a UFC title, that's for damn sure.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Jared Cannonier"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-cannonier/if-i-m-looking-back-i-m-going-back-that-s-anxiety-and-that-s-not/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Anxiety"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-cannonier/if-i-m-looking-back-i-m-going-back-that-s-anxiety-and-that-s-not/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c4/jared-cannonier-6014_anxiety_if-i-m-looking-back-i-m-going-back-that_3142604.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c4/jared-cannonier-6014_anxiety_if-i-m-looking-back-i-m-going-back-that_3142604.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c4/jared-cannonier-6014_anxiety_if-i-m-looking-back-i-m-going-back-that_3142604.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“If I'm looking back, I'm going back. That's anxiety and that's not beneficial to me winning a UFC title…” — Jared Cannonier",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Jared Cannonier",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-cannonier/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "If I'm looking back, I'm going...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-cannonier/if-i-m-looking-back-i-m-going-back-that-s-anxiety-and-that-s-not/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-cannonier/if-i-m-looking-back-i-m-going-back-that-s-anxiety-and-that-s-not/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
