F.E.A.R.
F.E.A.R.
We’re taught at an early age how to deal with the fear of failure. That the fear is just our way of rationalizing if we should or shouldn’t do something. That it is normal in life. And, that failure is needed to help shape the person that we are to become. We are taught to push through the fear and that if we fail, it’s okay. Just get back up, dust yourself off, and try again. Don’t be afraid of the failure.
That is a valuable lesson. It has pushed people to step outside of their comfort zones and do things that they never imagined. We have folks all over the planet doing things that they were once fearful of doing for whatever the reasons. Be it fear of failure, fear that someone might make a joke of what you love, or that you might disappoint someone. Maybe even yourself.
So much emphasis goes into not falling into those pitfalls. There are a plethora of books and videos on overcoming the fear of failure. Motivational speakers hold conferences and seminars where people attended in the masses to find out the secret of this. I am quite sure that if you Google the topic, you will find more resources than you imagined.
That is a great thing, as many people face this daily. But, while we spend time discussing this, there is something that is being overshadowed. Something that I haven’t heard many talk about. Another side of fear. The fear of success.
You read that right. Fear of success is a real thing. It can be, in some cases, worse than fear of failing. We are all taught to deal with failure. But no one talks to us about what happens when we succeed. Many of us embark on dreams and passions that we are eager to put out into the world. They take off like a rocket embarking on a mission and suddenly, we find ourselves standing there with our hands on our heads.
What now? What is the next step? Once I find it, do I take? If I do, can I handle what comes next? Am I ready to go down the road that it may take me? I know that I can’t be the only one that has these questions and possibly more. Where do we go for answers?
I had to take a hard look at myself the other day when I was asked why I was procrastinating getting out my third book. I know that I have taken more time away from writing than I wanted. I’m not going to lie; I’ve been downright lazy. It’s not like I don’t have the outline down, or already know how it’s going to end. The only thing I have to get straight is the middle part. It’s not hard. I just have to get it done, and I will. And me being lazy is rooted in me being fearful. Fearful that if I do succeed things in my life might be different. Can I handle the changes that might come?
Success is different things to different people. It can range from what you accomplish to what you gain. It can enhance who you were before it, which can be a not so good thing depending on the person. It can help better your life, or it can completely destroy it.
What I fear about success is the unknown. If I succeed, can I live up to the standard that I have set up for myself? What happens if it surpasses even my imagination? Will I be able to hold on for the ride? Well…….let me buckle my seatbelt.
F.E.A.R = Face Everything and Rise!
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