It seems that everyone is rushing about today, in search of some tangible, or intangible, goal. We believe that we need to be the best – be promoted to the highest position in our company, raise our children to be wonderful, well-rounded adults or get the most advanced degree available in our field. But, there is a well-kept secret that keeps many people from reaching their highest potential; in fact, this secret is one that people often aren’t aware of themselves! It is an overwhelming fear of success.
If we thinking about it – really think about it – most of us can admit to experiencing some fear of success. On the surface, of course, a fear of success sounds ridiculous. After all, isn’t success something we all strive for? Why on earth would you be afraid of reaching your goals, of being the best? The key to understanding the much-discussed “fear of success” is this: it is not a fear of reaching your goals or becoming the best, but a fear of what comes next.
Right now, we can tell ourselves that we will be happier or more satisfied with our lives once we reach our self-appointed goals. But, in our inner minds, we wonder – what if we reach our goals, become successful, are the absolute best at what we do – and are still not happy? We are afraid that we would be lost, having met our goals and not finding the fulfillment that we expected at the end of the road.
We cannot let a fear of success to keep us from living our best life, to prevent us from reaching our goals. You may not be unsure of what will happen after you reach your goals, but you know what will happen if you don’t. You will look back on your unmet goals with a sense of regret. You will feel disappointed in yourself for not following through and being your best self.
Life is too short to let your goals and dreams pass you by simply due to a fear of the unknown. We must push through, continue to strive for what we want to do and become. And, when we break through those goals into unknown territory, we will be as the adolescent bird in spring. We will look around at an exciting world of opportunities, and choose a new direction in which to spread our wings.