If you struggle to achieve success and find yourself running from every opportunity for success you come across, you might have a fear of success.
This fear is common among people of all walks of life.
This fear is easier to spot in others than it is to notice in yourself.
If you’re concerned that you might be afraid of success, there are a few signs for which you can look out. In this article, we’ll explore a few, 7 guaranteed signs that you’re suffering from a fear of success.
You’re concerned about the opinions of others as they pertain to your success
It’s true; success can lead to a lot of attention, both positive and negative. The more success you achieve, the more attention you’ll attract and the more eyes will be on you.
This means that others are going to heap their opinions on you about pretty much everything you do, which can spark the fear in a lot of people.
They’re worried about being criticized or judged publically or maybe even failing their company. It’s safer to dream of what-ifs than to try and risk failing.
You’re concerned it will over-complicate your life
It’s a common misconception that more success typically means more responsibility and more work that you have to complete, however that’s not always the case.
Oftentimes, when you’re in a successful position, you’re able to delegate to one or even multiple underlings to help lighten your workload.
Sure, you’ll have obligations and certain commitments you won’t be able to avoid, but on the whole, it won’t be much more than you’re always dealing with.
For some, the fear of complication takes a step further towards irrationality by jumping to the fear of being more vulnerable to crimes or burglarizing.
You’d rather not try than risk taking on more than you can handle
One surefire sign of having a fear of success is finding that you’d rather not try for success out of the fear that the job is more than you can handle.
It’s important to know that the majority of people in this world got by on “fake it until you make it” at the start of their career, until they gained a better understanding of their job and what was expected of them.
There’s a learning curve to every new position.
Don’t let the fear of something being too difficult keep you from trying to succeed.
You Fear Changing
The fear of change, also known as “metathesiophobia,” can manifest in a number of ways when it comes to fearing success. Some people may be comfortable with their current situation and the familiar routine they have established, and the thought of having to adapt to new circumstances and responsibilities can be overwhelming.
They may fear that success will disrupt their current way of life, and that they will not be able to handle the changes that come with it.
This can lead to feelings of anxiety and uncertainty, and may cause people to avoid taking risks or pursuing opportunities that could lead to success.
Additionally, change often brings unknowns, and people may feel that they have little control over their future.
This can lead to feelings of insecurity and vulnerability. Furthermore, people may have had negative experiences with change in the past, which can make them more resistant to it in the future.
It’s important to note that change can be scary, but it’s also an inevitable part of life. It’s a natural process that can lead to growth and development.
Fear of change can be overcome by learning how to adapt to new situations, developing coping mechanisms, and seeking support from friends, family, or professionals.
You’re concerned you’re not ready
You could wait your entire life to be ready for something and it never happen. People often say that when you know you’re ready or when you know something’s right, you’ll know, but that’s not always true.
Sometimes we find ourselves waiting around forever to feel ready when, if we would have taken the leap and tried something unfamiliar, we could have had a shot at finding a new skill or trade.
Be open to try something new that you might not think you’re necessarily ready for yet; you could end up surprising yourself.
The fear of success stops many people all over the globe from achieving their dreams all the time.
This crippling fear can stop you from going ahead and taking risks to achieve your overall success and is hard to identify in yourself. However, it’s not impossible to help overcome your fear of success and still strive to succeed.
First, you must identify that you do, in fact, have a fear of success.
Hopefully, our list of guaranteed signs of fear of success will help you to identify it and start to work on improving it.
