FYFW 2014: Fear of Success
It’s my 3rd Annual Face Your Fear Week! Today we’re talking about the fear of success.
Sometimes it’s scary to be successful—even if you’re aiming for something you’ve always wanted!
You might be fearful of making more money than your spouse, so you don’t apply for that high-paying job you’d be perfect for.
You might be afraid of alienating your overweight loved ones, so you avoid starting a diet and exercise plan.
I’ve found it’s easier to admit your fears to others when it’s something that most people can relate to.
But who in their right mind is scared of success?
Of course we fear creepy strangers, being out of the loop, looking foolish, and man-eating grizzlies. Those things fall under what I like to call “acceptable fears.”
Not many people admit fearing success because isn’t that what we’re all looking for?
When I think about what my life would be like if I succeeded in all my endeavors, my heart starts beating fast. True, some of that is excitement, but some of it is fear too.
Have you ever had a big goal that you couldn’t reach no matter what you did? A subconscious fear of success might have been working against you.
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The fear of success is such an interesting concept because it really does seem like it would be crazy to actually be afraid to achieve the goals that you’ve set for yourself! I can definitely relate to this as I feel like I hold myself back sometimes. I wonder if part of it is a fear of what happens next? Like not knowing what is in store for you after you finally achieve your goal. And maybe also achieving success but then losing it? I think that is what scares me…. that I’ll reach my goal and be really happy but then it all comes crashing down.