I want to talk about something that doesn’t get enough airtime—because it’s way easier to talk about failure than this.
Let’s talk about success.
I know, everyone talks about success. How to plan for it, how to achieve it, how to hold onto it. The advice seems endless.
But there’s not much talk about the fear of success, a very real thing you might not know is influencing you.
It sounds weird, right? We’re wired to chase success, to dream big, and to visualize our goals, but when we’re finally standing on the edge of success it can sometimes feel terrifying.
The fear of success is often more paralyzing than the fear of failure. Why? Because success doesn’t just bring wins…
Success brings change.
Why Success Feels So Intimidating
Success changes your life. It’s supposed to, but even the good kind of change disrupts your sense of stability. Your brain is comfortable when it’s protected by predictability. So when success comes along and threatens to shake things up, your brain might try to pump the brakes.
Have you ever found yourself procrastinating on your goals, even though you know you really want to achieve them? Or maybe you’ve been guilty of downplaying your wins so you don’t stand out too much or seem bigheaded.
There may have even been a time in your life, knowingly or not, when you sabotaged an opportunity because the change that would come along with it would be too much for you to handle.
The fear of success is a genuine psychological phenomenon that affects masses of people, including the extraordinarily successful.
While the fear of success might seem irrational, it’s often rooted in a combination of personal experiences, societal expectations, and self-perception.
Here are a few of the common fears that might be holding you back. Recognizing them can help you understand those moments when you feel unable to reach out and take what you’ve worked so hard to achieve.
1) Fear of Increased Expectations
Studies show that success often brings “success stress,” the pressure to maintain or exceed past performance. This fear can make you hesitant to pursue goals because the dread of the ongoing demand for excellence can feel debilitating. Research from the American Psychological
Association shows that this specific type of stress is a leading cause of procrastination and avoidance behaviors.
The pressure to maintain success is real, but it’s also proof that you’re capable of achieving great things. You’ve overcome challenges before, you can handle what comes next.
2) Fear of Judgment or Rejection
Not everyone will celebrate your wins, and the fear of criticism or envy can hold you back. Success often changes how others perceive you, sometimes straining relationships. A study in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that 60% of people fear social rejection after achieving significant goals, leading them to downplay or avoid success.
Your success isn’t about pleasing others. It’s about living authentically and reaching your full potential. The right people will celebrate your growth, and those who don’t might not belong in your next chapter.
3) Fear of Being Exposed
Even the most accomplished people experience imposter syndrome. According to the International Journal of Behavioral Science, up to 70% of people experience imposter syndrome at some point in their life. The fear of being found out as a fraud or being seen as undeserving of the success you’ve earned can lead to you subconsciously avoiding achievement.
Remind yourself that wherever you are in your success journey, it took hard work to get there. Hard work you put in. You’ve earned your wins, so don’t be afraid to own them.
4) Fear of Failure After Success
Reaching success can make the fear of falling short even more intense. Once you’ve achieved something significant, the idea of future failure can feel overwhelming, especially if your success has put you in the spotlight. This “fear of the fall” often leads people to avoid bigger opportunities entirely. Research in the Self and Identity Journal shows this fear is a key barrier to continued growth and fulfillment.
Does success mean you’ll never fail again? Not by a long shot. But every challenge you overcome makes you a stronger and more capable version of yourself, better equipped to face future obstacles and seize new opportunities.
5) Fear of Losing Your Identity
Success often requires growth and transformation, which can feel both exciting and unsettling. Studies in the Journal of Personality suggest that identity shifts during major achievements can trigger anxiety as people struggle to reconcile their evolving selves with who they once were.
Success will change you, but it doesn’t have to mean losing yourself. Instead, it can help you uncover new facets of who you are.
Well, now that I’ve made success sound terrifying (lol), I want to sum all this up with something that will put this all into perspective for you.
What you want out of life is on the other side of fear. Fear is the gatekeeper that’s standing in your way, but it’s only as powerful as you allow it to be.
And not to beat a cliche here but…
If what you want was easy to get, everyone would have it.
So let’s work on getting you to the other side of your fear of success.
Action Step
Success isn’t just about reaching a string of goals. You have to believe you’re ready for what comes next. This week, let’s focus on uncovering the hidden obstacles holding you back, reframing them, and shifting your mindset so you’re prepared to receive everything you’ve ever wanted.
1) Uncover the Fear
Think about a goal you’ve been hesitant to pursue. Ask yourself if the fear of success is holding you back. Write down three reasons you want this goal, three ways it could positively change your life, and three potential challenges or negative changes that could result in achieving your goal. Reflect on what’s really stopping you. Are those fears you wrote down realistic, or are they just your brain trying to keep you safe?
2) Reframe Your Narrative
Look at the challenges or fears you wrote down. For each one, write a counterpoint that focuses on growth and possibility. For example, if you fear losing free time, reframe it as creating opportunities to delegate and focus on what matters most. This step helps you see success as something you can handle and look forward to rather than something to be afraid of.
3) See It. Believe It.
Every day this week, I’d like you to set aside five minutes to visualize yourself achieving your goal. And I’m not just talking about the moment you achieve it. I’m talking about how you’re going to go about your life after you achieve it. Imagine yourself handling challenges with confidence and embracing the opportunities success brings.
Visualizing your success will “trick” your brain into thinking the success has already happened, reducing the instinct to resist change and keep you safe. By doing this, you’re rewiring your brain to see success as possible and within reach.
I hope this week you’re able to catch all the little ways your quiet fears are causing you to shrink away from the success you’ve been working for.
Success requires bravery. It requires confidence, boldness, and grit. And I know you have all that and more in you.
The next time you find yourself on the brink of success, have the courage to stake your claim. You’ve earned it!
