Are You (Subconsciously) Afraid of Success?

We hear a lot about a fear of failure, but oftentimes, we can also be scared of success. We may not be aware of it either, we're socially bombarded with messages that tell us being successful is amazing. It probably will be, but if it's a new goal, a new area, and requires stepping outside the comfort zone, that fear can fire up. Fear often has to do with worrying about uncertainty, feeling out of control, and wondering 'what will it be like when I've done x, y or z?'.

When you realize you can't answer those questions without doing the actions and starting the journey, and trusting that journey, even if you don’t fully understand what that is, it’s easier to start taking the action needed. You also need to remind yourself that you both deserve and need to be successful and happy.

There are typically three areas of success where that fear hides out so when you know about them, you can do something about them! These three areas are fully credited to 99U.  

1. Fear of Not Coping With Success  
If you experience doubts, remind yourself of all the extra resources success will bring you:

• A boost to your confidence
• A bigger, more powerful network
• A healthier bank balance
• A growing reputation that opens new doors

 
2. Fear of Selling Out  
Firstly, accept that you’ll never please everyone. Backbiting is part of the price of success.
Secondly, make sure you are comfortable with your choices. Make a list of all the things you would consider “selling out,” and which you’re not prepared to do. Then keep the list handy. As long as you don’t do the things on that list, you can look yourself in the mirror. Whatever anyone else says about you.

3. Fear of Becoming Someone Else
​Because we habitually put successful people on pedestals, the idea of becoming “one of them” can feel daunting. You start to worry that you’ll turn into someone else, a person your friends and family won’t recognize—and won’t like.

This fear has some foundation in reality. After all, if you were satisfied with the person you are now, why would you want to change? But it’s also founded on a false premise: that change is about leaving your old self behind and replacing it with a completely new one. Change is more complex than that. You are definitely more complex than that.
 
 Here's the old saying - feel the fear and do it anyway! DO IT! You know you want to :)