Why do we Fear Success?

It seems like such a silly thing to say.

Why would anyone fear being successful? Isn’t that what we’re all trying to achieve?

I recently published two more books in my “Blog That Never Ends” series.  I was more nervous about publishing them than the first four.  That feeling didn’t make any sense to me.

I was excited to publish the first four journals.  I was happy with how they turned out, and I think they did pretty well.  So why was I fearful about hitting publish on the others?

Here is what I discovered after reflecting on it and doing a little research:

1. I suffer from Imposter Syndrome. (Do you?)

I stumbled upon this blog post “How to Overcome Your Fear of Success,” and it talks about  Imposter Syndrome.  I’d never heard of it before or heard anyone describe it in this way.

“Sources, such as Wikipedia say that: Impostor syndrome (also known as impostor phenomenon or fraud syndrome) is a concept describing high-achieving individuals who are marked by an inability to internalize their accomplishments and a persistent fear of being exposed as a “fraud.” Read the full post here.”

That’s me.

No matter what I accomplish or how far I seem to get in my life, business, or writing.  I feel like I’m always one mistake away from being a failure, being seen as a fraud.

I’ve had success but if I mess up I’m afraid people will think that everything I’ve accomplished or told them I’ve done will count for nothing.  It doesn’t matter how far I’ve come only that I didn’t live up to expectations this time.

Is this you too?

2.  I’m a People Pleaser.  (Not a new discovery)

I hate to let people down.

I’m sure there is some deep-seated psychological reason why I am this way but, I know that I am and that’s the first step right?

I want to make everyone happy, and I feel like a failure if I can’t deliver.  I told my family and friends about my success with my first blog journals.  If the next ones turn out to be a flop what am I going to tell them?  They think I’m successful.  I don’t want to have to tell them I’m not.

It seems contradictory to a fear of success but, since I had success now, I’m expected to live up to that.  Because of my small success now I feel like I have to perform.  That success has made me afraid of doing anything else.

3.  Fear is Inaction (Courage is Action)

Fear roots us to the spot we’re in and keeps us from moving forward.  To overcome our fear, we must take action.  We must have the mindset that to get out of a rut; we must be proactive.

We need to walk up to the thing that scares us, look it in the eye, and say “I will.”  Whatever it is that you’re afraid of doing or not doing, tell yourself you can overcome.  You can make small steps to accomplish your goals.

Fear will not hold me back.  I will take action, and I will publish more books.

4.  Fear is a Liar

Fear whispers lies in your ear.

“You can’t do this.”

“No one will want to buy what you’re selling.”

“Your idea isn’t good enough.”

“All your work is in vain.”

But the truth is…

“You can do this. You’ve done it before.”

“I have sold the other books in this series.”

“Someone is looking for what I have to offer’

“My first royalty check from my other books is on it’s way”

Do you have a fear of success? Do you suffer from any of the things I mentioned above?  I’d love to hear how you overcome these obstacles in your life. Leave me a comment below.