What if... Success is Harder to Accept than to Achieve

It’s Harder than You Think

It’s a bold statement, that in many ways could be debated.  However, I believe that accepting success can be harder than achieving success.  Yes, that’s right.  Achieving, quote “success”, can be way more difficult than accepting it.

Before I explain, let me first start by saying that “success” is defined by YOU.  This is an important concept to understand because how you define success, determines the path you take to reach success.   So before you start working countless hours, identify what your definition of success is, and make sure that it is your own.

Otherwise, you will adopt someone else’s definition.  The problem however, is that this can leave us dissatisfied with the very “thing” we assumed would make us happy. For many people, this marry-go-round only leads to more stress, more strained relationships, and a never ending thirst for more. But unfortunately, more of one thing, does not automatically equate to more of something else.

So What is Success to You?

After you discover how YOU measure success - here is why I believe accepting that success, is sometimes more challenging than achieving it.   

1.      It’s New. It’s Different. It’s Unknown. Because what you accomplished is new, different, and unknown – there is an overwhelming feeling that you don’t belong (even though you do). Clinically, this is referred to as “impostor syndrome”. Deep down, you feel like a fraud, and somehow will be discovered. This feeling can cause us to self-sabotage or reject the very thing we said we wanted most.

2.      Mentally Difficult. The hardest changes we make are mental. Therefore, accepting success is just as important mentally, as is the work that goes in to it.  This is why many of us are continuing to work for things we already have. Mentally, we haven’t made the shift. 

3.      Reality Check.  It’s easy to hide behind things we don’t have. For instance, I often hear people say, “If only I had ____, then I would______”.   The problem however is that when they get that, and the problem is still there, they are forced to deal with their own reality.  

What’s Next…

Achieving “success” can be challenging and demand more than we anticipate, but so can accepting it. 

If you find yourself consistently dissatisfied, despite making progress; comparing yourself to others, or minimizing your own accomplishments, acceptance may be your greatest difficulty.

For help being more confident and getting more satisfaction out of life, schedule your first counseling or coaching appointment Today.