--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think to visualize failure as you're…" description: "\"I think to visualize failure as you're starting off is really a bad thing to do.\" — Marcia Gay Harden" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab5/marcia-gay-harden-8656_bad_i-think-to-visualize-failure-as-you-re-s_2133232.jpg" --- # I think to visualize failure as you're starting off is… ![“I think to visualize failure as you're starting off is really a bad thing to do.” quote by Marcia Gay Harden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab5/marcia-gay-harden-8656_bad_i-think-to-visualize-failure-as-you-re-s_2133232.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab5/marcia-gay-harden-8656_bad_i-think-to-visualize-failure-as-you-re-s_2133232.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab5/marcia-gay-harden-8656_bad_i-think-to-visualize-failure-as-you-re-s_2133232.jpg) > “I think to visualize failure as you're starting off is really a bad thing to do.” [Marcia Gay Harden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcia-gay-harden/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Warns that pre‑emptively picturing failure can undermine confidence and hinder progress. **In simple terms:** Imagining failure early harms success. Key Takeaway Avoid visualizing failure early. Themes confidence mindset motivation Mood cautious motivational Type psychological advice When to use this quote - coaching sessions - goal setting - public speaking Key Concepts psychology performance self‑talk Questions to Reflect On - How can you reframe fear into preparation? - What strategies keep you focused on success? A Different Perspective Some fear of failure can be motivating if managed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) ## Related quotes > [If you visualize a failure, you tend to create the conditions that produce failure. Visualize-believe-and thank God in advance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/if-you-visualize-a-failure-you-tend-to-create-the-conditions-that/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [“Sheila, you’ve got to hang on. All this is just an increased power to think—to visualize, to handle data and the dreams you yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poul-anderson/sheila-you-ve-got-to-hang-on-all-this-is-just-an-increased-power-to/) [Poul Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/poul-anderson/) > [“think them into being; see them, visualize them, and expect them—and they will be. And you will be guided, inspired, or led to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-hicks/think-them-into-being-see-them-visualize-them-and-expect-them-and/) [Esther Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-hicks/) > [People say when you turn 18 it means your life is now starting but really its now ending so much work to do](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamesha-prass/people-say-when-you-turn-18-it-means-your-life-is-now-starting-but/) [Tamesha Prass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamesha-prass/) > [I was always a great believer in starting at the top. I really think that focusing on a career and working your way up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenda-bailey/i-was-always-a-great-believer-in-starting-at-the-top-i-really-think/) [Glenda Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenda-bailey/) > [Starting really hasn't been a big thing for me. I always want to be able to finish a game or play at the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevon-looney/starting-really-hasn-t-been-a-big-thing-for-me-i-always-want-to-be/) [Kevon Looney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevon-looney/) > [Black holes do not emit light, so you visualize them through gravitational lensing - how they bend light from other objects.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kip-thorne/black-holes-do-not-emit-light-so-you-visualize-them-through/) [Kip Thorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kip-thorne/) > [Visualize, 'prayerize', 'actionize', and your wishes will come true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-l-allen/visualize-prayerize-actionize-and-your-wishes-will-come-true/) [Charles L. Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-l-allen/) > [“You must learn to take a step back and visualize the whole piece. If you focus only on the thread given to you, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-houck/you-must-learn-to-take-a-step-back-and-visualize-the-whole-piece-if/) [Colleen Houck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-houck/) > [When you think about the scale of human populations all over the world and the fact that there's so much here, really, the only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-parcak/when-you-think-about-the-scale-of-human-populations-all-over-the/) [Sarah Parcak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-parcak/) > [The first thing I do with any script is read it and try to visualize if I can play the character - if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percelle-ascott/the-first-thing-i-do-with-any-script-is-read-it-and-try-to-visualize/) [Percelle Ascott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percelle-ascott/) > [To visualize an image (in whole or in part) is to see clearly in the mind prior to exposure, a continuous projection from composing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ansel-adams/to-visualize-an-image-in-whole-or-in-part-is-to-see-clearly-in-the/) [Ansel Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ansel-adams/) > [When I meditate, I visualize myself after the match as the winner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bianca-andreescu/when-i-meditate-i-visualize-myself-after-the-match-as-the-winner/) [Bianca Andreescu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bianca-andreescu/) > [You visualize making a game-changing play, that's what you're here for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-donald/you-visualize-making-a-game-changing-play-that-s-what-you-re-here-for/) [Aaron Donald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-donald/) > [When we visualize something, we establish a relationship to the thing itself, not to some mere subjective representation of it inside us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/medard-boss/when-we-visualize-something-we-establish-a-relationship-to-the-thing/) [Medard Boss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/medard-boss/) ## More by Marcia Gay Harden > [I think families should vacation together, and cruising is a wonderful option.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcia-gay-harden/i-think-families-should-vacation-together-and-cruising-is-a-wonderful/) [Marcia Gay Harden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcia-gay-harden/) > [In 2005, I had the great honor of playing Shailene Woodley's mother in 'Felicity: An American Girl Adventure.' I was immediately impressed by her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcia-gay-harden/in-2005-i-had-the-great-honor-of-playing-shailene-woodley-s-mother-in/) [Marcia Gay Harden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcia-gay-harden/) > [Its important that kids learn, but I really dont like all the testing, testing, testing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcia-gay-harden/its-important-that-kids-learn-but-i-really-dont-like-all-the-testing/) [Marcia Gay Harden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcia-gay-harden/) > [The important thing is that when you correct your children, they see what they've done wrong and why you're upset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcia-gay-harden/the-important-thing-is-that-when-you-correct-your-children-they-see/) [Marcia Gay Harden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcia-gay-harden/) > [I'm fortunate to have a team of people who help me. I've got an assistant, an office manager, a nanny - she's not full-time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcia-gay-harden/i-m-fortunate-to-have-a-team-of-people-who-help-me-i-ve-got-an/) [Marcia Gay Harden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcia-gay-harden/) > [I loved playing Anne Bancroft, because she was so wonderfully arch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcia-gay-harden/i-loved-playing-anne-bancroft-because-she-was-so-wonderfully-arch/) [Marcia Gay Harden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcia-gay-harden/) > [With any tween, you have issues, from what they are going to wear to school, to how do you get them to speak politely,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcia-gay-harden/with-any-tween-you-have-issues-from-what-they-are-going-to-wear-to/) [Marcia Gay Harden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcia-gay-harden/) > [So far, the thing I seem to have been rewarded for in film is leaving myself behind and transforming myself into other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcia-gay-harden/so-far-the-thing-i-seem-to-have-been-rewarded-for-in-film-is-leaving/) [Marcia Gay Harden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcia-gay-harden/) > [You're over there in the corner either thinking about the dead dog or whatever, you're bringing up your personal life and you need the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcia-gay-harden/you-re-over-there-in-the-corner-either-thinking-about-the-dead-dog-or/) [Marcia Gay Harden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcia-gay-harden/) > [I was always an exhibitionist. I liked it when everyone laughed. But I didn't do plays in high school. I was too nervous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcia-gay-harden/i-was-always-an-exhibitionist-i-liked-it-when-everyone-laughed-but-i/) [Marcia Gay Harden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcia-gay-harden/) > [I'm not a big fan of mediocre.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcia-gay-harden/i-m-not-a-big-fan-of-mediocre/) [Marcia Gay Harden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcia-gay-harden/) > [I played Laura Bush in a Tony Kushner piece, and afterward, I think my phones got tapped.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcia-gay-harden/i-played-laura-bush-in-a-tony-kushner-piece-and-afterward-i-think-my/) [Marcia Gay Harden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcia-gay-harden/) > [ I celebrated \[my 50th birthday\] by throwing a big bowl on the pottery wheel, then going for a water ski at the lake on… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcia-gay-harden/i-celebrated-my-50th-birthday-by-throwing-a-big-bowl-on-the-pottery/) [Marcia Gay Harden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcia-gay-harden/) > [The people who stood out in the Sandy Hook incident, the heroes, were the normal, ordinary people who went to save those children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcia-gay-harden/the-people-who-stood-out-in-the-sandy-hook-incident-the-heroes-were/) [Marcia Gay Harden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcia-gay-harden/) > [I have a theory that there's almost this primal viewpoint on women in the business, that once you're beyond childbearing age, you are perceived…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcia-gay-harden/i-have-a-theory-that-there-s-almost-this-primal-viewpoint-on-women-in/) [Marcia Gay Harden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcia-gay-harden/) [Explore all 79 Marcia Gay Harden quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcia-gay-harden/) ## More Bad quotes > [If I am going to be phased out by whatever powers, then I want people to know that it is not because I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parvathy/if-i-am-going-to-be-phased-out-by-whatever-powers-then-i-want-people/) [Parvathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parvathy/) > [Sometimes I'm in a bad mood, sometimes I'm in a good mood. It's like everyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tricky/sometimes-i-m-in-a-bad-mood-sometimes-i-m-in-a-good-mood-it-s-like/) [Tricky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tricky/) > [Unfortunately, we all go through bad phases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sushmita-sen/unfortunately-we-all-go-through-bad-phases/) [Sushmita Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sushmita-sen/) > [The Derby experience had not been good for me and the way it finished left a very bad taste in my mouth so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-pearson/the-derby-experience-had-not-been-good-for-me-and-the-way-it-finished/) [Nigel Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-pearson/) > [What people tend to forget is the journey that I had getting to Formula One. There were plenty of years where I had to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-hamilton/what-people-tend-to-forget-is-the-journey-that-i-had-getting-to/) [Lewis Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-hamilton/) > [Television, radio, social media. The 24/7 news cycle plows forward mercilessly on our desks, in our cars and in our pockets. Thousands and thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/television-radio-social-media-the-24-7-news-cycle-plows-forward/) [Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/) > [I listen to heavy metal thanks to my son. When I argue with him on the kind of music he is listening to, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeenat-aman/i-listen-to-heavy-metal-thanks-to-my-son-when-i-argue-with-him-on-the/) [Zeenat Aman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeenat-aman/) > [I've said it before, good people are forced to do bad things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angus-cloud/i-ve-said-it-before-good-people-are-forced-to-do-bad-things/) [Angus Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angus-cloud/) > [“If any woman opens her legs for you, don't feel so lucky to be fed with nonsense, she has been a bitch for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/if-any-woman-opens-her-legs-for-you-don-t-feel-so-lucky-to-be-fed/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [One thing I always tell players is that there are three bad things: Nothing good happens after midnight, nothing good happens when you're around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-saban/one-thing-i-always-tell-players-is-that-there-are-three-bad-things/) [Nick Saban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-saban/) > [Everybody has bad days, but how you respond to it is a testament to whether you are a winner or a loser.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-gordon/everybody-has-bad-days-but-how-you-respond-to-it-is-a-testament-to/) [Aaron Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-gordon/) > [Obviously I'm very grateful 'Bad Guy' is doing so well - it's shocking and surprising and gratifying - but I do think it's important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finneas/obviously-i-m-very-grateful-bad-guy-is-doing-so-well-it-s-shocking/) [Finneas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finneas/) > [I felt pretty good growing up. I didnt feel a lot of prejudice or racism. But I do remember, if there was going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-henry-hwang/i-felt-pretty-good-growing-up-i-didnt-feel-a-lot-of-prejudice-or/) [David Henry Hwang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-henry-hwang/) > [If you read 'Lord of the Rings' and dismiss it as a lie because it has orcs and elves, you're missing the whole point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-tennapel/if-you-read-lord-of-the-rings-and-dismiss-it-as-a-lie-because-it-has/) [Doug TenNapel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-tennapel/) > [My conscience is really active. So I feel bad about spending excess amount of money on things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syd/my-conscience-is-really-active-so-i-feel-bad-about-spending-excess/) [Syd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syd/) Browse all 7,973 Bad quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think to visualize failure as you're starting off is really a bad thing to do.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Marcia Gay Harden" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcia-gay-harden/i-think-to-visualize-failure-as-you-re-starting-off-is-really-a-bad/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bad" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcia-gay-harden/i-think-to-visualize-failure-as-you-re-starting-off-is-really-a-bad/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab5/marcia-gay-harden-8656_bad_i-think-to-visualize-failure-as-you-re-s_2133232.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab5/marcia-gay-harden-8656_bad_i-think-to-visualize-failure-as-you-re-s_2133232.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab5/marcia-gay-harden-8656_bad_i-think-to-visualize-failure-as-you-re-s_2133232.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think to visualize failure as you're starting off is really a bad thing to do.” — Marcia Gay Harden", "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": "Marcia Gay Harden", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcia-gay-harden/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I think to visualize failure as...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcia-gay-harden/i-think-to-visualize-failure-as-you-re-starting-off-is-really-a-bad/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcia-gay-harden/i-think-to-visualize-failure-as-you-re-starting-off-is-really-a-bad/#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 } } ] } ```