Defining The Fear Of Success

Written by Stacie Walker

According to Dictionary.com, fear is defined as “a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc., whether the threat is real or imagined; the feeling or condition of being afraid.” Fear can mean that you are about to experience a painful emotional experience.

Both the fear of failure and the fear of success create an apprehension that something bad is going to happen. The fear of failure is the anxiety you feel while anticipating not making your goal, but the fear of success is a different type of fear.

What exactly is the fear of success?

The fear of success is the fear that once you make your goal,  something terrible will happen as a result.

Do you feel anxiety while working on your goals? When you really think about it, that doesn't make sense!

Of course, you want to make your goal, and you want your accomplished goal to be a success!

What it all comes down to is that you are not afraid of success; you are afraid of what might happen when you do succeed.

Basically, it boils down to change. It can be a change with the people you associate with or even a complete change in your lifestyle. Others will expect more from you or you will expect more from yourself. It can seem overwhelming just thinking about what changes will take place once you accomplish your goals.

In order to overcome the fear of success, it is important to identify why you are holding yourself back from completing your goals.

Take the time to write down who you will need to be when you reach your goal and the expectations that come with it. 

Write down what you will lose once you realize your goal, too.  To take it a step further, write down how success will really change your relationship with your friendships, your family, and your business associates.

Now that you have identified why you are holding yourself back, it will be a revelation that you can handle the circumstances once your goals are completed. Once you know you can handle the outcome of completing your goals, then nothing can stop you from achieving the success you deserve.