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Fear of Success: Why It's Holding You Back More Than You Think

In my last post, I wrote about how the fear of failure can lead to procrastination. But there's another fear that's talked about far less — the fear of success.


You might recognize this thought:

“If I succeed, people will expect more from me. And what if I can’t handle it? Better to keep expectations low — it feels safer that way.”

Sound familiar? You’re not alone.


Avoiding pressure might bring temporary relief. But over time, that mindset keeps you stuck. According to Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), every behavior has a positive intention — even procrastination. Your brain is trying to protect you from future disappointment, judgment, or burnout.


There’s a popular saying:

“The higher you climb, the harder you fall.”

So to avoid the fall — we avoid the climb. But in doing so, we also avoid growth. Our goals remain out of reach — not because we’re incapable, but because we don’t feel safe reaching for them.


So how do you overcome the fear of expectations?


Here are a few tools that have helped both me and my clients:


Redefine success.Success doesn’t mean being flawless. Dr. Brené Brown reminds us that embracing our imperfections is what leads to true growth. It’s not about perfection — it’s about authenticity.


Own your truth.A coach once told me:“If you pull your own pants down, no one else can do it for you.”In other words: be honest with yourself and others. When you admit your truth, no one can use it against you.


Manage expectations — yours and others’.Let go of the pressure to perform perfectly. The goal is progress, not perfection.


Take action anyway.Waiting for the “perfect moment”? That’s often just another form of fear. Start where you are. Try, fail, try again. That’s where real success is born.


To end: Success isn’t perfection. When was the last time you demanded the impossible from yourself?


And what if, instead of fearing expectations, you embraced the freedom to simply be yourself — with all your strengths, flaws, and everything in between?


If that thought brings you relief or a sense of possibility — good. That’s the point. 😉


This post is the second part of my series on the emotional roots of procrastination. You can read the full series on my blog.

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