The Fear Of Success
What beliefs come spontaneously to mind when you daydream about success?… Do you believe you deserve to succeed?
“It is a joy to be hidden and a disaster not to be found.” — Donald W. Winnicott
“You loved me as a loser, but now you’re worried that I just might win.” — Leonard Cohen
Success has consequences. It could lead to important changes in one’s life, sometimes even a change in professional or social status and identity, involving new and additional responsibilities, as well as heightened expectations on the part of “others”…
Psychological conflicts that interfere with confidence and motivation to pursue goals or enjoy success are common emotional difficulties (Klafter, 2015 ). Unfortunately, when an unrecognized fear of success becomes reinforced by irrational and inflated thoughts or beliefs linked to negative emotional states, such as anxiety or envy (and which may be hard to recognize, especially if one has been thinking in such ways for years), it is at risk to become a cause of severe passive procrastination (avoidance of necessary tasks) and active procrastination (focus on secondary tasks), potentially leading to feelings of helplessness and dependency.
