How fear of success works
Mar 28, 2010
FEAR of success can be as paralysing as fear of failure. <br>According to http:psychology.suite101.com, many people fear success because it tests their limits and makes them vulnerable to new situations. <br>
By Vision reporter
FEAR of success can be as paralysing as fear of failure.
According to http:psychology.suite101.com, many people fear success because it tests their limits and makes them vulnerable to new situations.
Others success can expose their weaknesses and force people to deal with their flaws. Success is scary because it involves change. Success can be intimidating and hard to handle.
With success comes more challenges and responsibilities, that can be threatening.
Sometimes people fear success because they don’t know if they can live up to their achievements. They don’t think they’re good enough or smart enough.
They’re afraid they don’t have what it takes to rise to the challenge, and they don’t know if they can sustain their success.
That’s where self-sabotaging behavior comes in.
Some of the signs of fear of success and self-sabotage include ‘partying’ the night before the big presentation.
This can be literal partying like drinking too much or staying out until the wee hours. It can also be metaphorical partying.
Procrastination. Putting projects, assignments or duties off while you do non-essential fluff can be a sign of fear of success.
All talk, no action. At times certain behaviours look like laziness, but they reveal a fear of success. For instance, you may talk about your life dreams but do nothing to achieve them.
Bbut you watch TV every night and surf the Internet for hours every day. You never actually take practical steps or exert self-discipline to move in the direction of your goals.
Negative, pessimistic thoughts and behaviors. Fear of success can involve an extremely negative perspective of life. “What’s the point of dressing up for the job interview? I probably won’t get it anyway.†Not trying – and focusing on all the things that can go wrong – is self-sabotaging behavior.
What’s the benefit of these self-sabotaging behaviors? They provide an escape hatch. That is, if you party the night before or put your project off to the last minute, you can then shrug off your performance.
You have an excuse for not doing well. Instead of facing the fear that you're not good or smart enough, you chalk it up to too many beers.
FEAR of success can be as paralysing as fear of failure.
According to http:psychology.suite101.com, many people fear success because it tests their limits and makes them vulnerable to new situations.
Others success can expose their weaknesses and force people to deal with their flaws. Success is scary because it involves change. Success can be intimidating and hard to handle.
With success comes more challenges and responsibilities, that can be threatening.
Sometimes people fear success because they don’t know if they can live up to their achievements. They don’t think they’re good enough or smart enough.
They’re afraid they don’t have what it takes to rise to the challenge, and they don’t know if they can sustain their success.
That’s where self-sabotaging behavior comes in.
Some of the signs of fear of success and self-sabotage include ‘partying’ the night before the big presentation.
This can be literal partying like drinking too much or staying out until the wee hours. It can also be metaphorical partying.
Procrastination. Putting projects, assignments or duties off while you do non-essential fluff can be a sign of fear of success.
All talk, no action. At times certain behaviours look like laziness, but they reveal a fear of success. For instance, you may talk about your life dreams but do nothing to achieve them.
Bbut you watch TV every night and surf the Internet for hours every day. You never actually take practical steps or exert self-discipline to move in the direction of your goals.
Negative, pessimistic thoughts and behaviors. Fear of success can involve an extremely negative perspective of life. “What’s the point of dressing up for the job interview? I probably won’t get it anyway.†Not trying – and focusing on all the things that can go wrong – is self-sabotaging behavior.
What’s the benefit of these self-sabotaging behaviors? They provide an escape hatch. That is, if you party the night before or put your project off to the last minute, you can then shrug off your performance.
You have an excuse for not doing well. Instead of facing the fear that you're not good or smart enough, you chalk it up to too many beers.