During some of my college years, I spent the better part of the summer doing some consulting (at that juncture interning might be a more appropriate term, however at the time in my mind it was the vision of what I ultimately saw myself doing in my career) for business.
Next to the small business was a psychologist’s office. One summer evening I had the experience of a hallway consult with the psychologist about success. The good doctor was telling me that individuals can fear success, especially if it is perceived as greater success than their parents achieved.
Is that really true, do people tend to fear success?
I decided it was time to do a little research on the topic. Using my very scientific research engine, Google, I searched for the answer. I ran across an article from; Susanne Babbel, Ph.D., M.F.T. who is a psychologist specializing in trauma and depression. She had a client ask her the following:
"Why are some people afraid to succeed but not to fail? Why are some more afraid of failure? How can one learn to embrace these two fears? What is the difference between them?
While reading this article I had a sudden revelation. Was my thinking all these years wrong? I had been looking at this from the perspective of fearing of success all along, but was it a fear of failure instead? Dr Babbel proceeded to describe the clinical aspects of this affliction.
After reading her description, I felt reassured that regardless of whether you possessed fear of success or failure, it is important to have a strategy to help you achieve accomplishment. The best way to experience accomplishment is to focus on activities that are in alignment with who you are. The vision of who you want to become. I believe that by creating a plan with realistic goals you can overcome your fear of success or failure. If you create a strategic plan for your life, business or both, you won't have to be anxious about potential success or failure. Quite simply you can focus on and execute your strategy and get closer to your goals, therefore achieving accomplishment
You can read more about here post here
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/somatic-psychology/201101/fear-success
I've often thought that I fear either success or I fear trying and failing. Maybe those aren't that different? I know that at the end of the day, I play it safe. Not sure that makes for a happy, fulfilling like, though.
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