Fear Of Success
This article was last updated 30 December 2011
Is the Fear Of Success actually holding you back?
It really is well documented, that many people fail to achieve their own goals in life, due to the phenomenon referred to as "fear of failure" but are you aware that a significant factor that is often overlooked, is a state generally known as "fear of success"?
Anxiety about failure will lead many people into inertia - the shortcoming to make decision or take action, in case these people receive rejection or negative outcomes.
This mental state is actually fairly easy to identify, and there are many tools within the personal development industry to help combat this plague as well as reprogram the mind for success. However, the fear connected with success is much more subtle, harder to spot as well as harder to eradicate.
Perhaps you have had this tendency in your life. Here are a few indications of a fear of success mindset.
Studying and trying to apply self-improvement techniques, and/or personal development tools, but your life will not improve or may even worsen.
- You settle for lower than you feel you deserve. or are capable of attaining.
- You start new projects filled with enthusiasm and optimism, but wane in your efforts, or perhaps stop short before you have completed all of them.
- You expect things to go awry, no matter how well the situation seems to be right now.
Can you recognize your own patterns in the any of the above fear of success claims?
The fear of success may also make you behave in ways that hold you back again. Look at the list below. They are symptoms of the fear of achievement.
Procrastination - putting off just what needs to be done or not doing what you understand will bring you closer to your desired result. Everybody suffers from this inner 'demon' at some point within their lives (although some of us suffer from it greater than others).
Procrastination is really a 'success killer'! How can ou expect to achieve your destinationm if you do not take steps towards this? Strive to do little things each day that brings you small steps closer to objective. This is why having a personal development strategy is an essential ingredient in the fight against remise. Take action! Any action! Refine your ways as you go along but do not sit is to do nothing. Taking action is one of the essential aspects in personal development.
Can't see the forest for the trees! - this really is almost the opposite of procrastination but has the exact same effect on your personal development. The aforementioned saying is an established fact, but have you ever given it real thought as a fear of success?
Don't get caught up within your plan, believing that it is more important, compared to a materialised goal! For many years I got trapped in this trap. I started to think and behave as though my plan was more important than my final result, and thus missed many opportunities to alter my course, and reach my goals more quickly!
Rid yourself of your ego, and allow the Universe to exhibit you a quicker route to your goal. Stay flexible and get rid of the fear of success.
Thinking that the time is not right - have you ever waited till the timing was perfect before starting a venture? Maybe you have waited until you had more information on the better plan?
Again MOTION is the key to the door to success. Using small steps forward are better than taking none, or patiently waiting to see if your foot is landing on the correct spot! Even if your actions take you from your goal, you have at least gained insight, and also knowledge, about what does not perform!
Being a perfectionist - this really is similar to the point above and has exactly the same effect, namely, that you never really move ahead. No matter how good a job is whenever its finished it can always be improved! We have heard many great musicians tell how they hate hearing their own songs because they can find several things that need improved. Yet, we still take pleasure in them. I think a classic example of this really is "Bridge Over Troubled Water" by Paul Simon. This particular song is hauntingly beautiful, yet Mr. Simon does not believe its good enough!
Seeing just problems - how do you use your focus? Would you constantly see only and alll the problems included? If you are this way inclined it is unnecessary trying to change overnight! However, you can use this particular mindset to your advantage while you strive in your private development to acquire an opportunistic frame of mind rather than a fear of success.
"How seeing only problems is not to my advantage?" a person says. "Easily", is my reply! Go through the problems and prepare a plan to manage them. Everytime you overcome one, congratulate yourself. Use them as a gauge for your accomplishments. If you keep seeing more problems, remind yourself showing how well you dealt with the others. Check out how far you have come ot actually overcome your fear of success!
If you go to a problem ask yourself, "how best can I overcome this particular challenge?" or "how quickly can I rectify this particular situation?". The quality of your questions are important.
- Make use of the problems as fact finders. Is there a actual problem now?
- If so then deal with this. Is it a potential problem?
- If so after that create a contingency plan in case it does occur however don't get caught up in it just be ready.
Enjoy the journey my friend, and by following the above guidelines, you will achieve success in anything you put your mind to.
Ultimately your fear of success will dissipate, and you will have moved a long way forward in your personal advancement.