Fear of Success

We often hear about the fear of failure, where we are afraid that we won't measure up in some way or that we will disappoint somehow. However, even though it seems counter-intuitive, the fear of success is very real too.

Many of us have big dreams and goals that we want to manifest into our lives. We think about them, we plan for them, we picture them, and we try to embody them as best we can. Why then do some people have such trouble actually achieving them?

The fear of success is very real. It seems strange that one would be afraid of the very thing that they want, however, as we dig deeper we will realize that fear of success often has less obvious implications. For instance, we might want that great new position at work and pay raise but it also comes with more responsibilities. We might want to be considered an expert in our field but that comes with higher expectations placed on us. We may want to be famously known for our craft but that comes with more visibility and possible scrutiny. So if we are to truly achieve the results we desire we need to also make sure we are not blocking ourselves with the fear of actually achieving them.

The first thing to do is to be clear about your goal. Next, ask yourself if it is authentic to you, meaning, is it something you actually desire or is it something you think you "should" want or others say you "should" do? If it is indeed an authentic desire your next step would be to imagine what that would look and feel like for you to have manifested what you want. As you do, and the more into it you get, the more you will notice fears and objections coming up like, "What if I'm not good enough?" or "What if I fail and embarrass myself?" or even, "What if I can't meet expectations?" These are your blocks to success. As you can see, fear of success actually stems from fear of failure. While the fear of failure seems more obvious as a reason why so many people don't even try, fear of success on the surface appears contradictory but in reality it's the same thing.

If you are going to have big dreams and goals you are going to have to be willing to step into those big dreams and goals with confidence and surrender. If you are going to dream big you are going to have to have the attitude to back it up. This way you will have the courage to take action so that what you want can actually materialize, and you will be ready for it when it does. So make sure you know what you want and why. Then make sure you are not blocking yourself with self-doubt, for once you clear away the debris of fear, whether it's of failure or success, there will be no limits to what you can do.