What Is the Fear of Success

PowerPoint PresentationOverview
At first blush, fear of success doesn’t sound like much of a fear. But it’s very real and it can hold you back
in a big way.
It’s probably not success itself that you fear, but the potential price of success. Sometimes, it’s your own
behind-the-scenes manipulations that keep tripping you up on the road to success.
Keep reading to learn more about fear of success, where it comes from, and how to overcome it.
What is the fear of success?
Fear of success is when you have an ongoing fear
of succeeding, so much so that you might be
inadvertently self-sabotaging.
It’s not that you think you’re incapable of
succeeding. It’s more about the fear of change that
may come and whether you’re up for it. For
example:
• You might get extra attention, but you’re shy or introverted and uncomfortable with the spotlight.
• Public success may bring social or emotional isolation.
• Your achievement might alienate your peers.
• People might think you’re bragging or self-promotional.
• You fear being knocked off the pedestal you didn’t want to be on in the first place.
• Success may not be all it’s cracked up to be.
• Success might change you, but not for the better.
Characteristics
expectations, people ensure that they never
make any real headway toward success.
• Giving up: In many cases, people derail their
own success by quitting right before it seems
they are about to succeed.
• Procrastination: Putting things off until the
last possible minute means that people
aren't doing their best or most thoughtful
work, which can seriously impair their
chances of succeeding.
may place obstacles in their own path that
decrease their chances of doing well. These
behaviors can range from minor acts of self-
sabotage to more serious self-destructive
behaviors.
Causes
achievements are undeserved or that they are
not as good as other people in their field.
People may fear that they won’t be able to live
up to expectations or that other people will
discover that they aren’t up for the challenge.
• Misinterpreting feelings associated with
the same physical signals. Because of this, it is
sometimes easy to misinterpret feelings of
excitement as nervousness or anxiety. This can
cause people to avoid situations that trigger such
emotions.
social or relationship repercussions. Researchers
called this phenomenon backlash avoidance. For
example, women may avoid self-promotion
because they fear that it does not align with
traditional gender roles. Researchers have found
that women tend to associate success with
greater negative consequences. People tend to
conform to these expected norms because they
fear social or economic backlash.
• Negative experiences: People who have
experienced some negative outcome in the
past after doing well—such as being derided
for being a “show off” or enduring hardship
because of this success—may also fear doing
well again in the future.
• Poor self-efficacy: Research has found that
people who have a fear of success also tend to
have low self-efficacy. Self-efficacy refers to a
person's beliefs and ability to achieve their
goals.
because they do not want to be in the spotlight.
Ways to overcome a fear of success
Explore the origins
childhood to figure out how you got here. Think
about earlier successes and what happened as a
result.
Consider how fear of success shows itself. It may
be helpful to make a list of all the ways you’ve
been sabotaging your path to success. Writing it
down will help put it all in focus. Identifying these
behaviors means you can start counteracting
them.
Success is complicated. What does it mean to you?
Visualize success with the idea that it’s not likely to
be all roses and sunshine. Nothing’s perfect. So, what
are the potential positives and negatives? Imagine
achieving your goal, what may happen as a result, and
different ways you might deal with it.
Manage stress and anxiety
Stress and anxiety may be contributing to your fears. Here are some lifestyle strategies that may help:
• Eat well. Aim for a balanced diet that provides all the necessary nutrients. Don’t skip meals.
• Avoid junk food. Go easy on alcohol, caffeine, and highly processed foods.
• Relax. Make time to kick back every day to read, soak in the tub, or whatever helps you wind down.
• Exercise. Some physical activity every day is important to overall good health. Join a class or enlist an
exercise buddy if it makes it easier to stay on track.
• Socialize. Share a few laughs, talk things over, and hold your support network close.
• Volunteer. Helping others is a great way to distract from your own fears.
• Write it down. Journaling can help you get in touch with your feelings and gauge your progress.
Tips for dealing with success anxiety
When success anxiety starts ramping up, try these in-the-moment coping strategies:
• Take a time out. Back away from your stressors for a few moments to relax and let go. Listen to
your favorite song or just sit and chill.
• Count to 20. A gentle counting exercise can help you slow things down and clear your mind.
• Breathe. Close your eyes and take 10 slow, deep breaths. Focus on your breathing to calm body and
mind. Repeat as many times as necessary.
• Walk. Change the scenery and let your mind wander.
• Call a friend. A little give and take with a friend can help take the edge off.
Impact of the Fear of Success
• Lower life satisfaction: One study found that
this fear significantly reduced satisfaction with life.
• Difficulty pursuing goals: Research also
found that a fear of achievement was
correlated with difficulties initiating and
maintaining behaviors. Because these first
steps toward a goal are so difficult, people
who fear success may struggle to get
started. Or they may find that they start
projects and then lack the motivation to
finish them.
normally associated with strong self-esteem, this
may not be the case with those who fear being
successful. This may be particularly true for
people who also experience imposter syndrome
because they don’t attribute their achievement
to their skill, knowledge, or hard work.
• Low expectations: Researchers have also
found that people with a fear of success tend
to adopt low academic and career goals
compared to their abilities.
Conclusion
Fear of success can be obvious or it can lurk beneath the surface so you don’t recognize it for what it is.
Either way, it’s a genuine fear that can come at great personal cost.
If you’re scared of success and its consequences, recognizing it is step one. There are a few things you can
do right now to start combating this fear. Or, a therapist can help you learn to embrace the changes that
come with achieving your dreams.