Many people would not think that success and the fear of punishment could go together. But for many people they do.
If you were mocked or ignored as a child whenever you achieved something, you could have gotten the message that it’s not ok to succeed. Getting ahead could be associated with being arrogant, pushy, or mean, and you could have been punished for that. You might have even gotten praise for holding yourself back and letting others advance ahead of you.
If so, it would feel better to avoid any possibility of advancement at work, or embarking on an exciting new project. And how to do that? By procrastinating. You could have the ability to do so much more, and procrastinating is an effective way to keep that from happening.
So this week, notice if fear of punishment is connected to your fear of success. Reflect on how your family, teachers, or peers responded to your accomplishments as a child. Were you shamed, or celebrated, for them?
Until next time….
Click here to view my website.
