5 Steps to Overcome the Fear of Success
You say you want success… but what if success feels scary once it’s close? On episode #1196 of The BIGG Success Show, we explore the hidden fear that shows up right before breakthrough, the fear of success. Click the player to listen now, or read the summary below.
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You’re on a roll. Making progress. Victory is in sight.
Then suddenly—the full weight of what’s about to happen hits you.
This can’t be.
You’re on the verge of BIGG success… and your hands start to sweat.
You tell yourself you’re not worthy.
You don’t deserve this.
So you stop playing to win and start playing not to lose.
You pull back. Subtly. Quietly. Almost unconsciously.
And before you know it, success eludes you again.
You tell yourself, “Fate just isn’t on my side.”
And life goes on. The same life.
But it doesn’t have to be that way…
You Want Success, So What’s Going On?
You say you want success.
More impact. More income. More freedom. More fulfillment.
But do you really?
Or do you freeze up when things start going well?
You overthink. procrastinate, and suddenly feel tired, distracted, unsure.
What’s going on?
You might not be afraid of failure.
You might be afraid of success.
And that fear is far more common than most people realize.
In this episode we explore:
- What it really means to be afraid of success
- Why it happens
- What to look out for
- How to work through it
What Does “Fear of Success” Really Mean?
Last time, we talked about the more common fear – fear of failure. but fear of success is entirely different.
As you’ll remember, fear of failure is an avoidance response to a risk of not meeting expectations. Fear of success is the anxiety that shows up when life is about to change in a BIGG, meaningful way.
Not bad change. Good change. But your brain doesn’t always know the difference Psychologists have long shown that humans react strongly to uncertainty, even when the outcome is positive
Success brings new expectations, new visibility, and new responsibility. Your brain tells you, “This is unfamiliar. Unfamiliar might not be safe.”
So it hits the brakes.
Sneaky Signs You’re Afraid of Success
This fear doesn’t show up waving a red flag. It hides in everyday habits.
Procrastination at Critical Moments – Not just routine delays — but precise bad timing that blocks forward progress when it matters most.
Perfectionism That Never Ends – Waiting to start or complete something until the conditions feel “just right.” But the right moment never arrives.
Self-Sabotage – Undermining your progress in subtle ways: Canceling meetings, missing deadlines, second-guessing decisions
Downplaying Your Wins – Saying things like “I Just got lucky.” or , “Oh, It wasn’t that big of a deal.” This internal language minimizes your achievement.
Feeling anxious right before a breakthrough – Especially when you visualize success. You stop playing to win, and start playing to NOT lose.
Why Your Brain Thinks Success Is Dangerous
The fear isn’t about success itself — it’s about what success means and what it changes.
Here’s what people often fear beneath the surface:
1) Success Changes Your Identity
If you’ve always seen yourself as “still figuring it out,” becoming successful forces a new story.
Your brain loves familiar identities – even if they limit you. As researcher Martin Seligman explains, our beliefs about ourselves shape our actions more than we realize. So when success challenges your old self-image, your mind resists it.
2) Success Makes You Visible
More success = more eyes on you.
More praise, yes. But also more judgment, comparison, and expectations.
Brené Brown’s research on vulnerability shows that being seen – truly seen – can feel emotionally risky. It’s easier to stay small than to be exposed.
3. Success Raises the Bar
A quiet fear whispers: “If I succeed once, I’ll have to keep succeeding.”
That pressure feels heavy. So your brain says, “Let’s not go there.”
In reality, you’re not afraid of success itself. You’re afraid of:
- Who you’ll have to become
- What you might lose
- How life might change
But growth always feels uncomfortable before it feels empowering.
Rather than stepping back to regain comfort, it’s wiser to step forward with fear and allow yourself to grow into the next level.
5 Steps to Move Through Fear of Success
Step 1: Name the Fear
Next time you are aware of the fear of success, pause and ask: “If I actually succeed at this, what am I afraid would happen?”
Write the answer down.
Is it Fear of judgment?, Fear of loss? Fear of expectations?
You can’t solve a fear you don’t face.
Step 2: Shrink Success Down to Size
Your brain panics at big, grandiose ideas like: “I’m going to dominate my industry” or, “I’m going to 10X my entire life.”
Too big. Too scary.
Instead ask,“What is one small action that moves me forward 1%?”
Send the email. Post the video. Outline the plan.
Small steps feel safer and they build real momentum.
Step 3: Upgrade Your Identity Gently
Instead of saying, “I’m a confident, wildly successful person!” (Your brain will reject that because, once again, it’s too big and vague.)
Try, “I’m becoming someone who follows through.”
Identity grows through believable affirmations. You believe with evidence. Every small win is proof.
Step 4: Track Proof That You Can Handle More
Fear of success often hides a deeper worry that you won’t be able to handle it. Start collecting proof that you already handle hard things.
Write down:
- Challenges you’ve survived
- Skills you’ve built
- Problems you’ve solved
Build confidence from fully remembering who you are and what you’ve done.
Step 5: Add Structure So Fear Has Less Room
Fear loves a blank canvas. It thrives when things are “vague” because it gives your brain plenty of room to imagine the worst-case scenario.
But when you start adding structure: clear goals, a simple path, someone to check in with, and focus…fear starts to lose its power.
It gives your brain a sense of safety.
That’s honestly why we’re such BIGG fans of our Life Map Course. It’s designed to take that ‘where do I even start?’ feeling and replace it with a steady, guided path.
We really wanted to create a practical way for you to move through those mental and emotional hurdles without feeling like you’re wandering through the woods alone.
When you have a clear roadmap to follow, success stops feeling like a gamble—it just feels like the natural next step.
To get that structure in place today and see exactly how the course works, head over to LifeMapCourse.com
BIGG Assignment
That brings us to this episode’s BIGG assignment from The Professor
Ready to turn insight into action?
Here’s your challenge.
Tonight, write one page answering this question:
“If I were no longer afraid of success, what would I do in the next 30 days?”
Don’t edit. Don’t judge. Don’t second guess. Just write.
Then circle one small action from that list – something you can do in the next 48 hours.
Do it.
Not perfectly.
Not confidently.
Just consistently.
Goal: That’s how you teach your brain that success is safe.
BIGG Takeaway
Here’s a mindset shift that changes everything:
Fear of success is not a stop sign.
It’s a sign you’re growing.
If you weren’t stretching beyond your comfort zone, you wouldn’t feel this tension. The discomfort means you’re expanding your identity.
That’s progress and that leads to BIGG success!
Next time we’ll talk about yet another fear – but this fear is one you want. It’s the fear that drives the most successful people. Do you have it? Subscribe in your favorite podcast app so you don’t miss it!
Here’s to your BIGG success!
George “The Professor” & Mary-Lynn
Co-Founders, BIGG Success
