The other day, I began to feel breathless with all the good things that have been opening up in my work life.  I have a lot on my plate with some exciting things happening, but on this particular day I began to think that too much was happening, or should I say, too much good stuff was happening and I was thinking it was all too much for me to handle.

So, I phoned a friend.  The telephone is a remarkably helpful tool!  As I was speaking to him, I realised this one important fact: I was afraid of my own success. 

The fear of failure is well-documented, but what about the fear of success?  I have been so used to struggling for achievement and am familiar with failure.  I often expect rejection for my efforts.  So when the good stuff starts to manifest, I’m uncomfortable!  It’s not what I expect and I’m not used to it.  So on that day, I found myself wanting to reject it! 

There’s a story about a man who fell into a sewer.  He remained there for some time.  People walked past him, shocked that he wasn’t attempting to get out.  “Why are you staying in that awful, stinky hole?”  He answered, “Well it may be smelly, but at least it’s warm and comfortable”.

 Ask yourself what you would need to give up in order to receive the success you are striving for.  What would you have to sacrifice?  Your comfort in what’s familiar? 

You are capable of more than you think you are.  Allow yourself to believe that about yourself and you may not be so afraid of the success that comes your way.  Not only that, but you are worthy of the success you seek.  The inner critic that says you are not is a likely factor in your fear of success.  I know at times I can fear being an imposter in my own success, not truly believing that I am both capable and worthy of receiving the good fortune that comes my way.

You are worthy simply because you exist.  Have the courage to connect with your greatness and dare to be who you are truly capable of being – bigger, bolder and braver.  Live beyond your expectations of yourself and your abilities. Melisa Pearce puts it very simply:

“Boldness will allow you to take a stand and assume your rightful place” Melisa Pearce

Acknowledge your fear – write down what it is in success that you are afraid of, then let it go – burn that piece of paper, asking God, the Universe, whatever you choose to call it, to take it from you. 

I leave you with one of my favourite quotes of our time:

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others” Marianne Williamson