Why People Have a Fear of Success and How EFT Can Help

Why People Have a Fear of Success and How EFT Can Help

It may sound strange to some, but many people have a deep fear of success. Whether it’s being recognized for their work, holding back on applying for a job, or even self-sabotaging, fear of success is a big hindrance for those who struggle with it. However, EFT holds the promise of helping these individuals to not only realize they can be successful but to achieve success as well.

What Does it Mean to Be Successful?

This is actually a difficult question to answer since the meaning of success is different for each person. For example:

• Having a high-paying job and making enough money

• Prestige

• Raising a healthy and happy family

• Achieving notoriety in a particular sport or activity

• Being creative and finding acceptance for your work

As you can imagine, success is a varied concept. Merriam-Webster defines success as a:

“favorable or desired outcome,” as well as, “the attainment of wealth, favor, or eminence.”

What is Fear of Success?

The fear of success means that success brings up negative emotions instead of positive one. Thus, in order to avoid those feelings, you do what you can to not be successful. For example, let’s say that you are up for a promotion at your job. Many people would be excited for the opportunity to advance in their career, receive a pay raise, and even receive an acknowledgment from their company and peers for a job well done. Yet, for those with a fear of success, this is actually terrifying.

What Causes Fear of Success?

There are several potential causes for fear of success. For example:

• Previous and unresolved trauma–you associate feelings that are associated with success with physiological sensations connected to a past trauma.

• Fear of getting your hopes up–because that always is the set-up for being disappointed

• Being successful means standing out from the crowd

• Fear of change, such as getting an award, promotion, or, in your personal life, a new relationship or marriage

Any kind of fear has an impact on your life, whether it’s a fear of germs, flying, or success. Unfortunately, this fear has the potential to hold you back in life, which leads to other problems such as depression.

Using EFT to Treat Fear of Success

One solution for this problem is using EFT, or emotional freedom technique, to address this problem. EFT is simply a sequence of tapping that you do, starting at your wrist and working from the head-down on specific points of your body. These points affect energy flowing through your body and tapping corrects the misaligned energy. At the same time, you repeat an affirmation during the tapping process that is reassuring.

What is the Benefit of EFT?

EFT helps with fear of success by providing a tool that you can use whenever those feelings arise. Instead of letting those feelings get the best of you, EFT provides something else to focus on besides those fears. You can use EFT when:

• You are about to give a presentation

• When you are about to receive an award

• Before a performance review

• When you need to make a major decision, either career or personal

• Whenever you are beginning to feel the fear of success

Using the EFT Affirmation

A powerful part of the EFT process is the affirmation. This is a phrase or saying that you repeat to yourself during the tapping procedure. Not only does it give you something to focus on besides your fear, it is a reminder that you are deserving of success, that it’s ok to succeed, and you can handle anything that comes your way.

Fear of success is a real problem for many people. However, by focusing on the EFT process and not on those fears, you can not only realign your energy but also move your attention away from those fears to something more positive. You don’t have to be afraid of being successful!