The Challenges of Success

                                                                                                                                                 Free image by Pixbay

There tends to be a lot of focus on the fear of failure, though achieving success comes with its own set of challenges. As we just saw with the Paris Olympics, the favourites did not always win or even qualify for the final. Sometimes those considered to be the underdog ended up being at the top of the podium. Why? Here are a few of the challenges that often accompany success and impact performance:

Expectations

Achieving success not only raises the performance expectations we have for ourselves, it can also impact what others expect from us. Higher expectations can increase the pressure we feel and fuel performance anxiety. You may feel like you should be achieving a personal best (PB) every time or expect to win. Anything less can feel like failure to your self-critic.

Remind yourself that improvements can be happening that do not show up in the results or time clock. Improvements tend to happen in larger increments when we are first learning a new sport or skill, and then improvements may be smaller and happen over a longer period of time. In fact, mistakes and failures can be a sign of improvement while your body and mind figure out what is needed to take your performance to the next level.

Attention

Success often comes with extra attention. Even people you do not know personally may be saying congratulations or wishing you well in your upcoming competition. You may receive accolades and your picture on social media or other news. Even your parents or grandparents telling their friends about your accomplishments can increase the pressure you experience for future performances. Extra attention can take time away from your training schedule or be a distraction.

Finding a quiet spot prior to competition and planning in advance on how to respond to the attention or media questions can help you maintain focus.

Lack of Motivation

It can be very motivating to work toward a goal, and then when you actually achieve it you may experience a “now what” type feeling.  You may experience a dip in your drive to train and have a desire to take a break or rest. You may have found motivation in climbing the standings and chasing those at the top. When you are at the top, it can feel like you have nothing to gain and only something to lose.

Finding new goals and purpose based on your personal achievements, regardless of the performance of others, is an important step. Establishing goals based on aspects of your training or skill development, versus placings, can help you see progress.

Fear of Losing Top Spot

Ironically, success can heighten fear of failure. You may feel like you have no where to go but down. Those around you may brush off your concerns of failure and comment that you have nothing to worry about. You may have achieved a great deal of success in your sport, moved up a level or age group, and your confidence is impacted when not achieving the same success right away.

Taking a look at how you define success and showing yourself some grace as you work on new skills to take your performance to the next level are two important considerations. A not good enough inner voice can stem from past experiences in our life and learning how to speak the language of your nervous system can help establish calm confidence when responding to challenges.

Tonia Anderson is a Registered Psychologist (RPsych), former elite athlete and executive leadership coach, specializing in health and performance psychology. With over 25 years in peak performance, she has worked with junior, amateur, and professional athletes competing at local, provincial, national, and international levels including World Championships, Olympic Trials, Pan-Am Games, and more. Tonia works with business executives, emerging leaders, youth, first responders and individuals wanting to achieve their career, sport, and life goals.

Book a free consultation with Tonia or her expert team to learn more about coping with the challenges of success and reaching your potential in all areas of your life at  https://toniaandersonpsychology.janeapp.com or email tonia@toniaandersonpsycholocolgy.ca to get started.