Are you afraid of success?
Posted by cccastellon on January 20, 2008
Believe it or not, this fear is very real for some people. It is said that celebrities such as Judy Garland, Richard Nixon, Marilyn Monroe and Freddie Prinze Sr. had it. According to Dr. Leon Tec, author of “The Fear of Success”, this fear is described as a person’s unconscious fear that his success is not justified and that he is a fraud. It is tied to one’s self image. The fear of success is a negative force that can paralyze and interfere with the kind of rational risk-taking necessary for success. An aversion to the responsibilities that come with success can also be a factor in fueling this fear.
It is said that even Judy Garland, Richard Nixon, Marilyn Monroe and Freddie Prinze Sr. had the fear of success.
Is this fear preventing you from improving your present situation? Are you unable to make the transition to a better job, a better position or a better relationship because of this destructive habit? Here are a few guidelines in managing this condition.
- Learn to recognize this fear. You may not even be aware that such a condition exists. Increase your awareness. The only one holding you back from winning might be – you.
- Find a reason to succeed. This fear is so widespread that even successful individuals also admit that they have it. The only difference is that their desire to succeed is stronger.
- Be open to changes. New promotion, new job means new responsibilities and a lot of adjustments, right? Of course. It’s always been like that. The sooner you accept this, the better it is for you.
- Fear not the responsibilities. You’ll always have to deal with these as long as you are alive, so fear not.
- Be at peace with yourself. Feel good about yourself.. Forgive yourself. This takes the pressure off. As long as you feel positive about yourself, you will be productive wherever you are in the pecking order.
