From Chanelle Schneider:
For as long as I can remember, I have been conscious of a “fear-influenced duality” of the mind between the desire and fear of success. This fear is partially responsible for the sense of paralysis some experience when attempting to move forward with their goals.
It causes one to think so much about the next step that, in my own personal experiences, you may develop mild headaches and desire nothing more than to lie down in hopes that the fear will move on.
The fear can seem so intense, so acute in instances, we seemingly devolve from the determined, confident people we know we are, into apprehensive and insecure versions of ourselves that we have worked hard not to be.
Keep in mind, however, this is more than a fear of failure – it is a fear of success.
What happens if I do get the job? Am I going to be partly, even on the smallest of scales, responsible for the success of an entire brand? If I do well, will I have to take on more responsibility? Will I be able to continue producing good work?
No one wants to be a one-hit wonder in their own life, do they?
For most, happiness is directly linked to success – it is a causal loop that has been set to iterate ad infinitum.
I have to succeed and yet, I’m scared. If perfection and success cannot be guaranteed from every attempt, why try?
I am sure we have all struggled with this; finding a purpose for life which we know is there, yet invisible to us. We undoubtedly know there is error in avoiding success to avoid the fear, but arguably yields less expectation in doing so.
Less expectation equals less pressure to do well. As the pressure decreases, so do the tension and headaches, thus resulting in happiness, right?
Wrong.
It leads to mediocrity – and happiness does not mediocrity make. So where do you look for a solution that will steer you in the right direction?
Some people say their “haters” – their opposition – is an inspiration for success. The negativity of those people whose life goal is to bring you down is transformed into feeding that hunger. Others, meanwhile, are motivated by the reward of success.
I would like to meet this latter group of individuals and ask them, “Why aren’t you afraid that once you do well, you’ll have to keep doing well?”
How do they find the happiness in becoming genuine success stories while removing the fear from the potential of success?
In my opinion, the answer is simply found in imitation.
Each generation in their quarterlife, including us Generation-Yers, needs an example; an illustration of what has worked in the past. Like those before us, we must continue to carry yesterday’s messages and inspirations as a means to shed light on the issues of tomorrow.
This should be our cure – our solution to overcoming our fear of success.
Take for example, Michael Jackson. He was not only an international superstar, but the inspiration and model for many Generation-Y entertainers who have replicated his style. And yet, Jackson was inspired by and imitated the work of entertainers before him.
Had he said to himself, “Jackie Wilson is the best. Why should I try to contribute anything to the music industry – the pressure to succeed would be too great,” Generation Y would not have had this unique muse; a motivator to follow our dreams.
Perhaps it is necessary to think of success not as a hinderance, but as the embodiment and continuation of the movers and shakers of years past; our own success as a foundation for future generations.
Like the Michael Jackson we hoped he would be – don’t be paralyzed and left to wonder what you could have been, listen to your music and dance.
Fear of Success