Fear of Success Equals Fear of Change

Nearly everyone wants to be successful in his orclimbing that ladder of success more will be
her life, I say nearly everyone because you candemanded of you and you are going to be
find people who actually have no desires toexpected to perform at a higher level. And you
succeed in anything. Sad really. So if this is theshould. You are going to have to go that extra
case, if people truly desire success and everythingmile. Just getting by, doing just enough, and not
that comes with it such as: financial freedom, timemeeting demands will not work. You will be
freedom, house and car of their dreams, exoticexpected to perform well and come through,
vacations around the world, stay at the finestmeeting deadlines and being on time and do this
hotels, etc, why do people have a fear ofon a regular basis. So again it is change we are
success?talking about. Let's face it, if you were already
For each person there will be a different reasondoing these things chances are you would already
or reasons, you can not just lump everyone intobe a success at whatever you wish to do.
one category and say this is why people fearFear of change, having to raise your standards
success, or can you?and what is expected of you.
I have read many articles on this subject and5. Friends / Enemies. This will happen. Get ready.
they are usually dealing with one aspect of whyWhen you become successful people start
people fear success or many different reasonsviewing you differently. They may gain respect or
why people have the fear of success.have more respect for you because of what you
However there is one common denominator tohave accomplished or they will become envious of
each of the reasons given and that it all boilsyour newfound success and no longer wish to
down to one thing: Fear of Change.speak to you or just talk behind your back.
It doesn't matter what reason that is given forPeople who you thought were your friends or not
having this fear of success, the things that arereally true friends and co-workers whom you
necessary for you to be successful is going to bemay not even had any sort of previous contact
different from what you have been doing in thewith just despise you just because of your
past.success.
Let's look at some of the reasons I have seen or"Few men have the natural strength to honour a
read about for people having the fear of success.friend's success without envy." Aeschylus
1. Comfort Zone. There is a reason why it's calledMany people's fear of success stem from this
the comfort zone. People are comfortable beingone reason, they do not wish to take a chance in
there. Everything is familiar to them there, therelosing friends or co-workers. These people are in
is nothing that is hardly unknown and when theretheir comfort zone. The thought of making new
is familiarity there is nothing scary to have to dealfriends is just too much.
with. Nothing to be on edge or excited about.This was one of my past fears. However what I
Well in order to become successful you are goingfound out once I was able to get through this
to have to change. You are going to have toblock was that making new friends with like
leave your comfort zone and do it on a repeatedminded individuals was much more rewarding. I
basis. That is the only way you can grow andwould rather have friends that celebrate me than
learn as a person and your business. Having to dotolerate me.
this just once for a lot of people is scary enoughFear of change, may have to make new friends,
but having to keep on doing it on a regular basis isbe talked about by envious co-workers, accepting
just too much to handle for many people.the idea that people who you thought they were
Fear of change, having to leave your comfortare not who they really are.
zone.6. Self Image. To me this is one of the major
2. Responsibility. You have to be responsible forsetbacks for the fear of success with people.
yourself and the decisions you make along theThey can not see themselves as being successful.
way in growing your business. You are in charge,They don't feel they are worthy of any success
in the lead, and its up to you. Again there isthat comes their way. Here again people do not
change here. If you were already a leader bywish to leave that comfort zone they have built
nature chances are you do not have a fear ofaround themselves. Before any success will come
success other wise you would not be a naturalyour way the very first thing that must change is
leader. So change must take place. You must doyou. You must change how you think, see and
things that do not come naturally to you. You arefeel about yourself.
leaving that comfort zone again. You mustYou must think positive and believe you are a
become a leader even if its just you who you arewinner. You must visualize yourself as successful.
leading. No one else is going to make decisions forYou have got to see yourself being a success
you.before you can become a success. Also you
Fear of change, having to take responsibility.must feel it within and know it to be true.
3. Attention factor. Are you a private person?Fear of change, having to accept the idea you are
Again change is going to have to take place. Nowworthy of success.
I am not saying you are going to lose all your"Success will not lower its standard to us. We
rights to privacy just because you wish to havemust raise our standard to success." Rev. Randall
success. What I am saying is that you can noR. McBride, Jr.
longer just blend into the crowd and not beNo matter what category you fall under as your
noticed. If you wish success you are going toreason or reasons for your fear of success it all
have to stand out, get noticed and you will. Withcomes down to change. You must change in
success comes attention, no matter what fieldorder to see change in your life. Nothing changes
you are in, more people will know whom you are.until you do.
Fear of change, having the attention now on you.© Copyright 2007 - All Rights Reserved
4. Higher Standards. When you are a success orDelton Doucet EmpoweringToday.