As taken from Easton and Liszt's classic The Ethical Slut, which I believe coined the phrase for the general public:
A friend of ours, when he makes a mistake, says, philosophically, "Oh well- AFOG," That stands, he says, for Another Fucking Opportunity for Growth. Learning from one's mistakes isn't fun, but it's better than not learning at all, right?
Compare to: What doesn't kill you makes you stronger.
by prrv July 08, 2011
a⋅fog (ey-fog)
noun.
Alpha Female Of the Group
The leader of a pack of girls. Usually the one who protects her girlfriends from being hit on by male losers. Can be perceived as a bitch.
Rico Suave: So did you hit it off with the three girls over there?
Joe Schmo: Nah man. The AFOG blew me out of the set and told me to "fuck off!"
by EyEfSee July 09, 2009
AFOG - (present tense) Another Fucking Opportunity for Growth!
Originated in Mt View CA in 1993 with a man who was trying to survive a heart-wrenching divorce. During therapy, he learned to allow emotions to be felt instead stuffing them which began a process of deep growth. After repeated experiences of having shitty-feeling emotions, moving through them, and then feeling better and seeing a little more growth and healing, AFOG was born. For him it encapsulated the energy of the emotions and process and helped him drop resistance both with a little bit of humor on the side. In the present tense it means "I feel like shit right now and it really hurts. This sucks! AND I trust myself enough to relax into the process and feel whatever I am feeling. I will survive the process and I will heal even if it is not in this moment”. Two apparently contradictory experiences (pain and trust) held simultaneously in harmony. It is an awesome experience and it is recommended to anyone.
AFOG - (past tense) Another Fantastic Opportunity for Growth!
This form of the acronym is fitting for after the healing of the moment has occurred. As in “Holy shit that was intense, that was a fantastic opportunity for growth. I am glad I did it”.
First shared circa 1994 in Sausalito CA at a “Dark Night of the Soul”course. Presumably, an author of “The Ethical Slut” was there and brought it to a wider audience. It is hoped that this acronym will be useful to anyone who is having a human experience. :-)
by mrpete2347 February 10, 2025