Are you Scared of Success? Then you are probably Self-Sabotaging
Have you ever found yourself holding back just when success seems within reach? Maybe you’re afraid of what success will bring—more responsibility, higher expectations, less time for friends or a loss of control. If this sounds familiar, you might be experiencing self-sabotage.
What Is Self-Sabotage?
Self-sabotage is when our actions or thoughts undermine our progress, often driven by unconscious fears. For many, it’s not failure but success that scares them. Success brings change, and with change comes uncertainty. It’s natural to feel uncomfortable stepping into new territory, but when fear causes you to block your own progress, it becomes self-sabotage.
A major part of self-sabotage is the fear of losing control. Success often means entering unknown territory—new responsibilities, new challenges, and less predictability. While you may desire success, you might also worry about how to handle it. This can lead to behaviors that derail your progress, like procrastination or avoiding important tasks.
For example, you might hesitate to change things on your menu because a few people always have them. Fearing those customers will complain and not come back. This fear can manifest in small ways—delaying work, avoiding decisions, or doubting your abilities.
Growth happens when you step out of your comfort zone, but that process can be intimidating. Comfort zones are familiar and predictable, while growth involves uncertainty and discomfort. The fear of the unknown can trigger self-sabotage, causing you to avoid opportunities for growth.
Take a restaurateur, for instance. Starting a business requires taking risks, but once the restaurant gains momentum, some entrepreneurs resist scaling it up. They fear that growth will push them beyond their comfort zone or make things too complex to control. Instead of expanding, they stick to the familiar, limiting their success.
Recognizing self-sabotage is key to overcoming it. It often appears as procrastination, perfectionism, or avoidance. You may find yourself endlessly preparing without taking action or setting unattainably high standards that lead to frustration.
Some signs include:
Procrastination: Delaying doing things due to fear of failing or losing control.
Perfectionism: Striving for impossible standards, making excuses to avoid
moving forward.
Self-Doubt: Constantly questioning your abilities, even when there’s no real basis for it.
Avoidance: Steering clear of new challenges to avoid discomfort or uncertainty.
Breaking the cycle of self-sabotage requires conscious effort and a shift in mindset. Here are some steps to help:
Acknowledge Your Fears: Recognize that fear is natural, but it doesn’t have to control you. These are some of the things we resolve with our coaching.
Challenge Limiting Beliefs: Replace self-limiting thoughts like “I’m not capable” with positive affirmations like “I want to learn and grow.”
Take Small Steps: Gradually step out of your comfort and build your confidence with gratitude for every little experience.
Seek Support: Surround yourself with people who encourage and challenge you. A coach or mentor but also make sure the people that you work with want to experience more.
Embrace Imperfection: Accept that success doesn’t require perfection. Mistakes are part of the learning process, and in my experience a mistake may lead to your biggest breakthrough.
Self-sabotage, whether driven by fear of success or losing control, can limit your potential. By acknowledging your fears, challenging limiting beliefs, and taking small steps out of your comfort zone, you can overcome these patterns and embrace growth. This is particularly evident after we have been through tough times as we are more fearful of loosing what we already have. Be courageous and challenge yourself to learn something that helps you improve every day. Growth is as essential to your business success as is stability.
