Don’t you worry your pretty little mind
People throw rocks at things that shine
We really hate success, don’t we?
Not our own of course. I mean, there is no dearth of stories about people who self-sabotage themselves because of their fear of success, but that’s a completely different topic. I’m talking about how we tend to turn on things or people that get too big or we deem unworthy.
I admit I am often guilty of it myself. Some celebrities raise my ire (Kim Kardashian, anyone?) but I’ve noticed over the years that any time someone starts to have some modicum of success, eventually there will be a backlash. For whatever reason, we become jealous and feel like we need to tear down those who rise to the occasion. It doesn’t take long for someone to go from being the talk of the town to being this week’s “no-talent hack” and joke punchline.
Why do we do that? Is it some feeling that if one person has success, it takes away from our ability to do the same? Like there is some limit to the number of people who can be successful at any given point in time? What is it that causes us to be threatened by someone else getting recognition for doing something amazing?
I don’t have an answer, but I believe that lifting up others doesn’t diminish our ability to rise above the fray. We need to learn to appreciate the talents of every person and what they offer to the world. We all have something important to share, and one person’s success does not equal our own failure.
We should lift each other up and recognize the gifts that the Creator has endowed in every single one of us. Jealously is petty and unattractive and doesn’t further our mission to make the world a better place. And when we feel threatened by someone else’s accomplishments, it makes us doubt our own abilities. That’s not what the Universe wants from us. The other side effect is the fear of success that I mentioned at the beginning of the post. When we see how people get torn apart when they celebrate their triumphs, it definitely makes people second guess if the cost is worth the price. How many things do we NOT do because we’re concerned about how people will negatively respond to it, no matter how good or valuable it may be?
Are you afraid of the success of others? How do you feel when you see someone achieve when you’re still struggling? How can you trust that there is enough prosperity in the Universe to accommodate everyone?
6 comments
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June 3, 2012 at 8:04 am
Jennifer Worrell
Amen! You are so right!
June 3, 2012 at 8:06 am
blissflower1969
Thanks! And I promise I’ll be more regular on posting on this one. I’ve been having so much fun with Nagzilla I’ve neglected the older child. LOL
I’ve decided that since this one is spirituality based and takes more actual thinking to create a post, I’ll commit to doing one every Sunday. Kind of like a Sunday sermons kind of thing. Only without the dogma.
June 3, 2012 at 8:36 am
Jennifer Worrell
That’s wonderful!
June 21, 2012 at 10:37 am
amb
“… but I believe that lifting up others doesn’t diminish our ability to rise above the fray.” Hear, heare. What fabulous sentiment! We need more people to think this way
July 5, 2012 at 6:13 pm
timkeen40
I am not afraid of the success of others, but when I see what others have done, it just pisses me off that I have not worked hard enough to get to where I really want to be.
Good post.
Tim
March 28, 2013 at 6:18 am
Bethylicious
Loved this post. I don’t think I’ve been so jealous of anyone else’s success that I’ve tried to tear them down, but I am guilty of not paying enough attention to the successes of others because my thoughts are usually on planning what I’m going to do for myself to get to the next level, which is just as bad. Because we want people to recognize us for our successes and pay attention to us, but how many of us are reluctant to return the favor? So, I’ve been trying to be more diligent in complimenting others, giving a pat on the back or a word of encouragement. Golden rule – Treat others the way you want to be treated
Great post!