Does anyone else feel generally incompetent at day to day life?
I'm not a shy person. I love being around people and can hold a conversation. I have skills I'm proud of. But at the most basic things I encounter day to day I feel completely incompetent. I'll misunderstand instructions as simple as 'pick that thing up' I'll go one direction, realize I'm going the wrong direction down a hallway, come back, and then realize I was right the first time, turning back and forth over and over. When someone needs help, like carrying something or opening the door, I'll just stare blankly before realizing I should have jumped in. I'll use the wrong phrases like 'you too' when people tell me to have fun on my vacation.
Does anyone encounter the same things? Or am I just weird?
8 years ago by OnlySlightly
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24 comments
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Welcome to the Human Condition! ;)
Yeah, it happens. The fact is, little flubs are just that. We all do them. Thing is, little flubs are quickly forgotten and ignored by everyone except the person who flubbed. Do you recall the last time your buddy / parent / girlfriend / boyfriend did something like that? Nope? Well, they don't remember yours.
I use to be awesome at names and faces, from movie stars, band members, relatives, friends and now I can barely remember my own name, drives me insane!
Maybe if you stopped drinking..
Don't want to be a quitter, always finish what you start!
Just stay nameless!
Haha, DrunkOldNamelessMan.....I kinda like that, has a ring to it?!
It's a bit long, I think.
Not weird. I'm the exact same way. Especially when dealing with others. I often stumble (sometimes I straight up stutter) over my words when talking to new people. Once I get to know someone, no problem. But meeting someone for the first time, it's like I forget how to interact...
Oh wow I do the exact same thing. That makes me feel better. I was beginning to think I had a speech impediment.
I've always said I don't have a speech impediment. I have a social impediment.
I am right there with you. I hate when I am talking and then just ... completely forget the word I'm looking for. I can see what it is in my mind's eye, but can't spit it out for the life of me and so I just stand there staring blankly at the person like an idiot while they just blink at me while I take up to a full minute to spit out this one word. It would be okay if it only happened once in a conversation - but it can happen for multiple words in a sentence. It's beyond frustrating for me.
I found that when I would compare to others I would just see their highlight reels (successes) but I agree with the other comments here that 100% everyone does it. Maybe some more than others, but it happens. It never gets better, that's for sure - the shame exists every time I put my bowl of popcorn in the fridge when I am looking for a drink....EVERY time.
I think a lot of people seem the same way, yet think that most other people don't.
Definitely. I even feel that people treat me like I'm incompetent and I've always been a people pleaser, so it's difficult.
I try to plug when appropriate, and this is the first time I'm doing it, but if you ever want to talk more about stuff: /t/needafriend is around the corner.
Thank you! This is exactly the kind of tribe I've been looking for!
You might hold unrealistic expectations. As the wise man once said: don't be so hard on yourself!
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It's not something you really ever overcome. You just either stay where you are or try to get better at it.
I lost my keys on a daily basis, until I got a keyholder to hang on my wall.
The key to adulting is to study your bad habits, and find ways to simply mitigate the damage. Pobody's nerfect.
24/7 and when I don't remember it my s/o will tell me.
I have maybe three things I'm really awesome at and bollocks at all the rest. I have trouble pulling names up more than I used to, but I do have minor brain damage so there's not much I can do about it.
I don't think you're weird. It seems more like you might be distracted a lot.
I don't feel that way often. Its sounds like you are distracted and your mind is elsewhere. What's going on in your mind when you misunderstand instructions?
I'm not sure I'd say incompetent, but I definitely close out a lot of days feeling like I didn't make much progress in life, even if it was a good day where I DID get things done. I guess I'm at a point in my life where I'm wondering if I'm on an upward trajectory or just stagnant.