Such self-referent misgivings creates stress and undermine effective use of the competencies people possess by diverting attention from how best to proceed to concern over personal failings and possible mishaps

If there is any characteristic that is distinctly human, it is the capability for reflective self-consciousness.

One cannot afford to be a realist.

From the social cognitive perspective, it is mainly perceived inefficacy to cope with potentially aversive events that makes them fearsome. To the extent that people believe they can prevent, terminate, or lessen the severity of aversive events, they have little reason to be perturbed by them. But if they believe they are unable to manage threats safely, they have much cause for apprehension.

People’s beliefs about their abilities have a profound effect on those abilities.

Such self-referent misgivings creates stress and undermine effective use of the competencies people possess by diverting attention from how best to proceed to concern over personal failings and possible mishaps

Except for events that carry great weight, it is not experience per se, but how they match expectations, that governs their emotional impact