The Greater Fear

The fear of suc­cess is greater than the fear of fail­ure. We know what it is to plod along. We do not know what it is to soar. Despite our best efforts, we sab­o­tage our chances at being more than we are. We trip up our career paths, our rela­tion­ships, and our finances. It is too easy to stay with what we know. Lot­tery win­ners can vouch for this. Many (if not most) are broke again in eigh­teen months.

It has to do with self-image. It is so dif­fi­cult to see our­selves other than we are right now. The efforts to change intim­i­date us. This syn­drome was often referred to in the para­bles of Jesus. Those used to hav­ing lit­tle, risked noth­ing and failed. Those used to much took the risks. Great risks bring the pos­si­bil­i­ties for greater rewards. The loser stays a loser (with very rare exception).

That may sound terse — even down­right harsh, but it is a solid prin­ci­ple. I met a man that quit on the last week of med­ical school. I knew another man that fin­ished med­ical school but refused to do his res­i­dency (all sorts of excuses from both of them). I am one to talk. I have two fin­ished degrees and five unfin­ished ones. All of the unfin­ished ones have to do with my inabil­ity to stay the course and see myself differently.

I have had shots at much higher pay­ing jobs, but I am very used to being mid­dle class. It is com­fort­able. I blame myself, my cir­cum­stances, my health, my back­ground, and even my gen­der (weird as that may sound). In truth, I am my own worst enemy. I make poor choices to stay in my com­fort zone.

Human nature is a tad stub­born. That keeps us sta­ble. It also keeps us stuck. Jesus applauds the big risk tak­ers. Hav­ing a lot to lose and risk­ing it any­way is a sign of faith. Faith builds upon its own use. It has no rea­son to be dimin­ished by age, income, or any­thing else. Faith opens doors and keeps open­ing them.

Look in the mir­ror and repeat after me: “I can be more than this!”