Seek, above all, for a game worth playing. Such is the advice of the oracle to modern man. Having found the game, play it with intensity -- play as if your life and sanity depended on it. (They do depend on it.) Follow the example of the French existentialists and flourish a banner bearing the word "engagement." Though nothing means anything and all roads are marked "NO EXIT," yet move as if your movements had some purpose. If life does not seem to offer a game worth playing, then invent one. For it must be clear, even to the most clouded intelligence, that any game is better than no game. - ROBERT S. DE ROPP, "THE MASTER GAME"
Even without comparing ourselves to the world's greatest, we set such high standards for ourselves that neither we nor anyone else could ever meet them - and nothing is more destructive to creativity than this. We fail to realize that mastery is not about perfection. It's about a process, a journey. The master is the one who stays on the path day after day, year after year. The master is the one who is willing to try, and fail, and try again, for as long as he or she lives. - George Leonard, "Mastery".
If you are still hung up on achieving the impossible, remember that at the flip of a switch you can relive reality as often as it takes to prove to yourself that there is no absolutely perfect way to do anything. So give it a go. Say it slowly; Absolute perfection does not exist. - Susan Halden-Brown, "Mistakes Worth Making".
“what matters most is how well you walk through the fire” ― Charles Bukowski
If the map doesn't agree with the ground, then the map is wrong. - Gordon Livingston, "Too Soon Old, Too Late Smart".
An unrealistic view of the world in which you are operating is one of the greatest causes of unforced errors. - Jeffrey A. Krames, "The Unforced Error".
“If you are going to try, go all the way or don't even start. If you follow it you will be alive with the gods. It is the only good fight there is.” ― Charles Bukowski
An emphasis on winning limits you and cheats you of some of your potential... You can't win all the time, but you can always work on becoming better. And as you do, winning will take care of itself. - Kenneth Baum, "The Mental Edge".
Not fearing failure is extremely important for success in chess, as well as in many other areas of life. Fear of failure can be a major obstacle to learning, growth, and achievement. It can lead to a reluctance to take risks, a tendency to avoid challenges, and a lack of willingness to try new things.
In chess, a fear of failure can prevent a player from playing aggressively, from trying out new openings or strategies, or from analyzing their mistakes and learning from them. It can also lead to a lack of confidence and a tendency to second-guess oneself, which can be detrimental to performance.
On the other hand, embracing the possibility of failure can be liberating. It allows a player to take risks, to experiment, and to learn from mistakes without being overly concerned with the outcome. This mindset can foster creativity, resilience, and a willingness to take on challenges, all of which are important for success in chess and in life.
Of course, it's natural to feel some degree of anxiety or nervousness when facing a difficult challenge, such as a tough opponent or a critical game. However, it's important to recognize that failure is a natural part of the learning process, and that every mistake or loss can be an opportunity to grow and improve.
In summary, not fearing failure is essential for success in chess. By embracing the possibility of failure and focusing on the learning process rather than the outcome, a player can develop resilience, creativity, and a willingness to take on challenges, which can ultimately lead to greater success on the chessboard.
The Map is Not the Territory - NLP proverb.