Are You Uncomfortable With Success?

Are you secretly holding yourself back? Discover the hidden fear of success, how it shows up in your life, and practical steps to break free and reach your full potential.
Sep 11 / Stephanie Garcia
Having high expectations for yourself raises your success ceiling.

With a higher ceiling, you’ve created the possibility of greater levels of success.

But are you comfortable with success?

That might seem like an odd question, but a hidden fear of success can be the ultimate form of self-sabotage.

Many people are uncomfortable with the prospect of success. It doesn't seem very easy to believe, but it’s true. Who wouldn’t want to be more successful? 

Failure might not be ideal, but it can be more comfortable than the possibility of something more. Eliminating your fear of success could be all you need to do to take your life to the next level. You may not even be aware that the thought of success makes you uncomfortable.

Consider these facts and strategies about success to become more comfortable with choosing success as a way of life...

Fear of success can manifest itself in different ways

  • Procrastination, self-sabotage, and an inability to concentrate on important tasks are signs of discomfort with success.


Do you suddenly feel tired when performing a task that could take your career to the next level?

These are signs that your unconscious is derailing your efforts.

  • Notice signs of self-sabotage in your work and relationships. Ask yourself why you engage in those behaviors. Look at your past objectively. Are you unconsciously modeling the behavior of an unsupportive role model?


  • Discovering and understanding the roots of your discomfort with success can help you break out of the patterns that hold you back. Ask yourself why you fear failure or success. Look at how those attitudes manifest themselves in your life now.

Interrogate negative beliefs. 

What are negative beliefs?

Negative beliefs are messages from your self-doubters that you have been internalizing all of your life.

They might sound like any one of these:
  • "You'll never make it."
  • "The only reason you've been successful thus far is because of luck or coincidence."
  • "It's too late to start over now."

Make a list of your negative beliefs regarding success and question them:
  • How do you know this belief is true?
  • When did this belief originate?
  • What are a few counterexamples to this belief?
  • What is this belief costing you?

“Your conscious mind is the goal-setter, and your unconscious mind is the goal-getter. When the two are not aligned, you will constantly undermine your success.”

- Stephanie Garcia

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