Agony Quote by Scott Stossel
“During high school, I would purposely lose tennis and squash matches to escape the agony of anxiety that competitive situations would provoke in me.”
About This Quote
Source Memoir: My Life of Anxiety, 2022
The author describes intentionally losing games to avoid the intense anxiety triggered by competition.
In simple terms: He lost on purpose to escape competitive anxiety.
Key Takeaway
Recognize avoidance patterns and seek healthier coping.
Themes
anxiety
competition
avoidance
self‑sabotage
Mood
anxious
reflective
Type
personal
psychological
When to use this quote
- sports teams
- academic exams
- job interviews
- public speaking
Key Concepts
psychology
stress response
behavioral coping
Questions to Reflect On
- What triggers your avoidance?
- How could you face competition differently?
A Different Perspective
Avoidance may reinforce fear and limit growth.
![“[W]e must learn to accommodate ourselves to the discovery that some of those cunningly-fashioned instruments called human souls have only a very limited range of music, and will not vibrate in the least under a touch that fills others with tremulous rapture or quivering agony.” quote by George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/9be/george-eliot-84_agony_w-e-must-learn-to-accommodate-ourselves_12409.jpg)
