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Fear of Success vs Fear of Failure - are they the same thing.

by buildyourconfidence
4 replies
I was wondering, is fear of success and fear of failure really the same thing, we are used to the concept of fear of failure but for some people the idea of fear success is quite strange, but surely if you fear success its because you then have to maintain it, you have something to live up to, not only your ideas but other peoples, and then isnt there always that fear that you can lose it all. Also there is a certain excitement to trying to make it, to starting something new and trying to "get there" wherever there is..

Just wondered what your thoughts on the matter are????????
Tony
#failure #fear #success #thing
  • Profile picture of the author Odahh
    they both have to do with how much you care about what others think and say about you .

    fear of failure you worry about the ridicule of those you know if you try something and fail .

    fear of success you worry about the how others will treat you when you are doing better ..and most likely better than them . then about changing your social group to more successful people..and then what happens if the success doesn't last ..and you have to drop back down .

    this is why it is the black sheep and the people outside social circles who often are the ones to do well and build wealth ..or the geeks and the nerds ..

    normal people who fit in with the people around them are desperately afraid of isolation from people who they think are like them .
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    • Profile picture of the author MissTerraK
      I don't think that they are the same at all.

      What I believe is that fear of failure is due certain situations and experiences in your life whether it be from parents, teachers or other kids, that built up a mindset within your thinking processes. A mindset that says you aren't worthy, or good enough, or liked if you are not successful at anything/everything you do. This pressure that the mindset puts on you stifles you at times and causes you not to attempt many things, because of that fear. It can absolutely cripple your life and keep you at a standstill instead of ever growing and learning.

      Fear of success however, I view differently however it also has to do with a mindset or perhaps a mind blockage. You see, our perceptions are our reality. So let's say you can envision yourself as having your own restaurant with your own recipes and menu. You envision it as being very popular and crowded with standing room only. No doubt that you can succeed within those terms. And when that happens, you can see yourself adding on or perhaps moving to a larger building.

      However, when you think of maybe having more of the same restaurants, or even chains of franchises across the nation and maybe even global, you freeze. You just don't see how that can be possible and don't think you can accomplish that for a myriad of different reasons. Your mind just can't grasp it. The blockage.

      You will most likely have a very popular restaurant and be successful with it. But because you couldn't see yourself going further than that freeze in fear at the thought, it won't happen. That is what I think fear of success is. I believe that fear of success can be in different degrees. What you can envision and believe, you accomplish but what you just can't see holds you back from more or larger success.

      Does that make sense to you? lol

      Terra
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  • Profile picture of the author Odahh
    terra ,

    the funny thing is most people try to open restaurants .. i think those are the number one starts and the number one fails .

    part of the reason is that it offers people social interaction ..and everone thinks they if they can cook they can open a place to eat
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  • Profile picture of the author HeadStartSEO
    I think people have a fear of both really. Think about it, if you succeed then you have to keep it going. If you fail people can easily say you gave it a good try, but you should of got a real job instead of wasting time.

    To have money, and to become broke is way harder than to have nothing and... well have nothing.

    You almost have to brainwash yourself to think like nothing affects you, so you can keep pushing hard each day.

    I put a photo of an office by my desk, and think what I don't want each day. It really drives me.
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