--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Your nervous system can't tell real…" description: "\"Your nervous system can't tell real failure from imagined failure.\" — Maxwell Maltz" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d0/maxwell-maltz-3463_anxiety_your-nervous-system-can-t-tell-real-fail_2481990.png" --- # Your nervous system can't tell real failure from imagined… ![“Your nervous system can't tell real failure from imagined failure.” quote by Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d0/maxwell-maltz-3463_anxiety_your-nervous-system-can-t-tell-real-fail_2481990.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d0/maxwell-maltz-3463_anxiety_your-nervous-system-can-t-tell-real-fail_2481990.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d0/maxwell-maltz-3463_anxiety_your-nervous-system-can-t-tell-real-fail_2481990.png) > “Your nervous system can't tell real failure from imagined failure.” [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The mind interprets imagined setbacks as real, causing stress and self‑sabotage. **In simple terms:** Imagined failure feels real to the nervous system. Key Takeaway Recognize thoughts as thoughts, not facts. Themes self‑esteem mindset psychology Mood anxious reflective Type motivational psychological When to use this quote - public speaking anxiety - performance pressure - new skill learning - overcoming fear Key Concepts cognitive distortion neuro‑physiology Questions to Reflect On - Do you treat imagined setbacks like real ones? - How can you reframe imagined failure? A Different Perspective Imagining failure can sometimes motivate preparation, not always harmful. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anxiety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Failure Imagined](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure-imagined-874046/) [Imagined Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagined-failure-874045/) [Nervous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nervous/) [Nervous system](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nervous-system/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Real Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-failure-330749/) [Visualization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/visualization/) ## Related quotes > [“Like all paintings, the portrait was ruined at the first stroke of paint; it would never be exactly as she had imagined it, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-bollen/like-all-paintings-the-portrait-was-ruined-at-the-first-stroke-of/) [Christopher Bollen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-bollen/) > [Your nervous system cannot tell the difference between an imagined experience and a 'real' experience. In either case, it reacts automatically to information which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/your-nervous-system-cannot-tell-the-difference-between-an-imagined-2/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) > [Your nervous system cannot tell the difference between an imagined experience and a ‘real’ experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/your-nervous-system-cannot-tell-the-difference-between-an-imagined/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) > [Mental pictures offer us an opportunity to practice new traits and attitudes, which otherwise we could not do. This is possible because again -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/mental-pictures-offer-us-an-opportunity-to-practice-new-traits-and/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) > [The fate of the physiology of the brain is independent of the truth and falsity of my assertions relative to the laws of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-joseph-gall/the-fate-of-the-physiology-of-the-brain-is-independent-of-the-truth/) [Franz Joseph Gall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-joseph-gall/) > [In a person who is open to experience each stimulus is freely relayed through the nervous system, without being distorted by any process of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-rogers/in-a-person-who-is-open-to-experience-each-stimulus-is-freely-relayed/) [Carl Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-rogers/) > [Using less of the Earth’s resources more efficiently and productively in a circular economy and making the transition from carbon-based fuels to renewable energies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-rifkin/using-less-of-the-earth-s-resources-more-efficiently-and-productively/) [Jeremy Rifkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-rifkin/) > [ It was at Harvard not quite forty years ago that I went into an anechoic \[totally silent\] chamber not expecting in that silent room… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cage/it-was-at-harvard-not-quite-forty-years-ago-that-i-went-into-an/) [John Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cage/) > [Torture takes over someone's nervous system. Torture takes over what they feel. Torture takes over and penetrates into their mind and into their body.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-danner/torture-takes-over-someone-s-nervous-system-torture-takes-over-what/) [Mark Danner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-danner/) > [The patterns of activity of neurons in sensory areas can be altered by patterns of attention. Experience coupled with attention leads to physical changes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-merzenich/the-patterns-of-activity-of-neurons-in-sensory-areas-can-be-altered/) [Michael Merzenich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-merzenich/) > [Zoocentrism is the primary fallacy of human sociobiology, for this view of human behavior rests on the argument that if the actions of "lower"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jay-gould/zoocentrism-is-the-primary-fallacy-of-human-sociobiology-for-this/) [Stephen Jay Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jay-gould/) > [It's not telepathy. It's not the Borg. But we created a new central nervous system made of two brains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-nicolelis/it-s-not-telepathy-it-s-not-the-borg-but-we-created-a-new-central/) [Miguel Nicolelis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-nicolelis/) > [With the arrival of electric technology, man has extended, or set outside himself, a live model of the central nervous system itself. To the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-mcluhan/with-the-arrival-of-electric-technology-man-has-extended-or-set/) [Marshall McLuhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-mcluhan/) > [Time is the nervous system of narration, whether factual or fictive. If it gets confused some of the minutiae of human nature are certain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenway-wescott/time-is-the-nervous-system-of-narration-whether-factual-or-fictive-if/) [Glenway Wescott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenway-wescott/) > [When it comes to having a central nervous system, and the ability to feel pain, hunger, and thirst, a rat is a pig is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-newkirk/when-it-comes-to-having-a-central-nervous-system-and-the-ability-to/) [Ingrid Newkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-newkirk/) ## More by Maxwell Maltz > [This Creative Mechanism within you is impersonal. It will work automatically and impersonally to achieve goals of success and happiness, or unhappiness and failure,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/this-creative-mechanism-within-you-is-impersonal-it-will-work/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) > [Your automatic guidance system cannot guide you when you're stalled, “standing still”.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/your-automatic-guidance-system-cannot-guide-you-when-you-re-stalled/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) > [You can do only one thing at a time. I simply tackle one problem and concentrate all efforts on what I am doing at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/you-can-do-only-one-thing-at-a-time-i-simply-tackle-one-problem-and/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) > [Within you, whoever you may be, regardless of how big a failure you may think yourself to be, is the ability and the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/within-you-whoever-you-may-be-regardless-of-how-big-a-failure-you-may/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) > [Successful people are able to rise above crises by relaxing no matter what the external situation. Their belief in themselves, the strength of their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/successful-people-are-able-to-rise-above-crises-by-relaxing-no-matter/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) > [Functionally, a man is somewhat like a bicycle. A bicycle maintains its poise and equilibrium only so long as it's moving forward towards something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/functionally-a-man-is-somewhat-like-a-bicycle-a-bicycle-maintains-its/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) > [Faith, courage, optimism, looking forward, bring us new life and more life. Futility, frustration, living in the past are not only characteristic of 'old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/faith-courage-optimism-looking-forward-bring-us-new-life-and-more/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) > [If you make friends with yourself you will never be alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/if-you-make-friends-with-yourself-you-will-never-be-alone/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) > [People who say that life is not worthwhile are really saying that they themselves have no personal goals which are worthwhile. Prescription: Get yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/people-who-say-that-life-is-not-worthwhile-are-really-saying-that/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) > [Take the trouble to stop and think of the other person's feelings, his viewpoints, his desires and needs. Think more of what the other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/take-the-trouble-to-stop-and-think-of-the-other-person-s-feelings-his/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) > [Your present negative beliefs were formed by thought PLUS feelings. Generate enough emotion, or deep feeling and your new thoughts and ideas will cancel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/your-present-negative-beliefs-were-formed-by-thought-plus-feelings/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) > [The greatest miracle you can hope for is self-acceptance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/the-greatest-miracle-you-can-hope-for-is-self-acceptance/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) > [Get yourself a goal worth working for. Better still, get yourself a project.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/get-yourself-a-goal-worth-working-for-better-still-get-yourself-a/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) > [For imagination sets the goal picture which our automatic mechanism works on. We act, or fail to act, not because of will, as is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/for-imagination-sets-the-goal-picture-which-our-automatic-mechanism/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) > [If you wait until circumstances justify your thinking pleasant thoughts, you are likely to wait forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/if-you-wait-until-circumstances-justify-your-thinking-pleasant/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) [Explore all 130 Maxwell Maltz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) ## 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": "Your nervous system can't tell real failure from imagined failure.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Maxwell Maltz" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/your-nervous-system-can-t-tell-real-failure-from-imagined-failure/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Anxiety" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/your-nervous-system-can-t-tell-real-failure-from-imagined-failure/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d0/maxwell-maltz-3463_anxiety_your-nervous-system-can-t-tell-real-fail_2481990.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d0/maxwell-maltz-3463_anxiety_your-nervous-system-can-t-tell-real-fail_2481990.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d0/maxwell-maltz-3463_anxiety_your-nervous-system-can-t-tell-real-fail_2481990.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Your nervous system can't tell real failure from imagined failure.” — Maxwell Maltz", "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": "Maxwell Maltz", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Your nervous system can't tell real...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/your-nervous-system-can-t-tell-real-failure-from-imagined-failure/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/your-nervous-system-can-t-tell-real-failure-from-imagined-failure/#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 } } ] } ```