The fear of success: an unnecessary road map to failure
The fear of success: an unnecessary road map to failure
The fear of success is not an underachiever’s excuse, yet underachieving is a symptom. Underachieving is a symptom of a fear of success when you have what it takes to achieve, yet fail to achieve because of what you think and feel about yourself. Under achievement may occur simply because you make no effort to undertake some project, because you doubt you will be successful, because you believe that even if you give it all you’ve got, something out of your control will come and destroy it. Under achievement, or a failure to undertake any project that might increase your status or a more positive state of mind, could also be a result of laziness, a hedonistic philosophy, or lack of opportunity, but when you have all that it takes to achieve, when you have the opportunity, and yet you refuse to be proactive, the reason could be a fear of success.
A common example of a person with a fear of success is the college student who aces every test, sits at the top of the class, attends all the lectures and is admired by peers and professors alike, yet semester after semester finds some reason to drop out at the last minute. This student knows that once the routine and common success of college is done, its off to the work force, to the real world where, undoubtedly he will be a success, but, once that success is achieved, nothing will remain to challenge the spirit, to motivate and give meaning to his life. Some people fear success because it means reaching a goal, reaching the end of a road with no tomorrow.
People with a fear of success are notoriously and consistently foiling themselves. They are constantly finding themselves a victim of some uncontrollable accident, and are usually the cause of it. A promising attorney continues to miss appointments with important clients because the car wouldn’t start. The lights were left on the night before, or he forgot to fill up, or the tire that has been low for some days, finally went flat. A soprano is to audition for a part in a metropolitan opera company, a chance she’s dreamed of all her life, but leaves the window open on the cold night before the audition and awakens with a sore throat. An executive, called back for a second interview, forgets to set his alarm clock. These are typical examples of what a person with a fear of succeeding will do to sabotage their own efforts, thereby avoiding success and, what success means.
What does success means to a person who fears success?. Does success mean having to be responsible to others besides yourself? Does it mean getting something you think you don’t deserve? Does success mean that somehow your life must change to something more serious and unpleasant than what you now have? Whatever the meaning, for a person with a fear of success, success means something negative.
Realizing that you have a fear of success will often occur when you fail to achieve your goals and objectives. This syndrome is accompanied by an acceptance of your own part in what caused the failure. It is revealed in a good faith examination of yourself, your decisions, or lack of decision, and your own capabilities.
If you conclude that you had the abilities and the opportunities, but your failure was a result of what you think or feel about yourself, you may be suffering from a fear of success. If so, it’s time to either help yourself or seek professional assistance. If you fear that help will lead to overcoming your fears, take the first step to overcoming the fear of success: force yourself to find or get the help you need. Your success and ultimate satisfaction in life, depends on it.
