Fear of failure is the real enemy in life with COPD

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can rob us of certain physical abilities, possibly preventing us from doing some of our favorite activities. But for many of us, the disease’s mental effects are even worse. Prior to my diagnosis, I was up for trying anything, but along with COPD came a constant fear of failure.

There is a library inside me. It is not made of stone or glass, but of memory, curiosity, and the quiet hunger to keep learning. Before COPD, I wandered its halls freely. I climbed ladders to reach innovative ideas. I dusted off forgotten dreams. I even planted stories in the garden outside its windows. These stories bloomed like heirloom roses.

I never questioned whether a particular flower would do well in my soil; I just planted it and watched what happened. I found immense pleasure in seeing the results of my efforts and endeavors, even if the flowers in my mind’s garden did not thrive.

Recommended Reading

August 25, 2025 News by Margarida Maia, PhD

New survey reveals key barriers to care for COPD patients in US

Can I still do this?

Then, along came COPD. It didn’t close the library, but it did dim the lights and make the stairs harder to climb. It turned tasks like cleaning the house, weeding the flower beds, and planting fresh flowers into epic journeys. Worst of all, it whispered, “You can’t do this anymore.”

After trying for months to get help with my housework, I decided that God was trying to tell me, “Yes, you can still do this.”

I stood in the doorway of my library, holding a broom in one hand and doubt in the other. I looked at the flower beds, overgrown and gasping for attention, and wondered if I had the strength to tend to them. Every physical task carried with it the question, “Can I still do this, and is it worth the breath?”

I have learned that every act of care — whether wiping down a shelf, pulling a weed, or writing a column — is a way of saying yes. Yes, the library still matters. Yes, the stories are still alive. Yes, I am still the keeper of this place.

I thought that the pain in my hips was making me afraid to clean on Saturday mornings, as I’d always done. But since physical therapy has taken away the pain, I had no reason not to complete the chores. I realized that fear of failure is the reason dust has collected, weeds have grown, and new flowers haven’t been planted.

Today, I believe COPD may slow me down, but it won’t stop me. I clean in chapters now. I weed in verses. I rest between paragraphs. And when I return to my desk, breathless but proud, I know I have added something to the archive: a record of persistence.

So, if you are standing in your own dimmed library, wondering if you should dust or dig or dream, the answer is yes — even if you must sit down halfway through, even if the weeds grow back, even if the broom feels heavier than it used to.

Because the library is still yours, and every breath you spend tending to it is a story worth telling.

Note: COPD News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of COPD News Today or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.