@Starswirl  
Finally somebody understand him like me.

No, besides, we’d have to go with it, there’s usually not enough time to lie in a cartoon. But it’s taking apart the idea. The part where he’s afraid of failing is after the part (and shorter) where Zeph is a spoiled child who wants to be pampered. Fluttershy was the only one who wasn’t humoring him. Zeph just doesn’t get that far (to success) because his only motivation isn’t success- it’s whatever time off (non-working time) he gets. Zeph doesn’t get that far (trying to get past fear of failure) because he gets bored/frustrated and never sticks with it.

@Background Pony #FF0B  
So, you think what he said to Fluttershy in the forest was a lie?

Pfft, Zephyr was clearly “I don’t want to work, I want to play! Therefore I don’t have to listen to the rules!” Zephyr is a morals story, an Aesop’s fable, not of fear of failing, but of “now is the time to stop playing and work” which is something all children have to learn. The only thing Zephyr feared was all his lies falling down and making it so that he couldn’t keep getting away with only following whatever whim he had, instead of rules and directions. He wasn’t afraid of growing up, he was afraid of acting mature and having to work at a goal in a structured environment. He wasn’t afraid of failing at it, which was a given anyway since Zephyr was as air-headed as they came. Because when he did… “Yay! 4 day weekend!”

@Background Pony #B99A  
This.
 
Zephyr was terrified of looking like a failure, so he sabotaged himself. That way, he could always tell himself it was because he didn’t care, not because he was scared. Fluttershy did something like this as well; during Hurricane Fluttershy, for example, she refused to try for fear of failing. They both freeze up under pressure, but they have different coping strategies.
 
The main difference is that Fluttershy managed to break through this vicious cycle with the help of her friends. Zephyr didn’t really have anypony who understood what the problem was. They thought he was just being lazy, when in reality, he’s just as fear-crippled as the rest of the family, despite his demeanour.

Basically me before exams (right now…)

@Background Pony #6800  
There was a long period of time when I was just the same, so I’m able to emphasize with his character.  
The worst part of anxiety is fear. Being afraid to start doing something or moving on can get so bad that you sabotage yourself, just so you can keep things the same.
 
@Toxicpinkiepie  
I think he was ruining his chances intentionally. If I don’t try this, if I don’t give 100%, if I treat this as a joke, then I won’t be hurt when I fail. I I didn’t care, so it’s ok if I fail. At least that’s how it is for me, I may be projecting a bit.  
He’s unwilling to accept his situation until he reaches rock bottom, where he has to face something truly terrifying, the truth about himself.

@Background Pony #6800  
I don’t know, he seemed rather “childish,” I mean, no matter what job you go into. You are going to have to do it THEIR WAY. He could have sucked it up and passed his hair, fashion thing, and did HIS IDEAS at home. Granted, his hair idea was garbage, and ugly as sin, but still.

@Background Pony #FF0B  
People would actually try to understand his character if he was female. Understand that anxieties can have a major influence on many things, even simple and small things.

me too

me_irl

Of course you can’t. MLP has always been big on switching the gender-roles. You didn’t think that hairdo was just you being a ponce, did you? Surprize, Zephyr- you’re actually meant to be female.

Oh my god, do I have to bring LaBeouf into this?

I know that feel, bro.

Me