How To Get Over Your Fear Of Making Money Before It Robs You Of Your Success
Despite how happy you imagined you'd be, you're also experiencing a confusing, overwhelming sense of dread. Your victory is eclipsed by a need to duck your head, aim for less and downplay your achievements.
With everything there is to worry about in this world, it doesn't seem like "making more money" would be too high in the ranks. But it's one of the most common reasons people hold their careers back.
Many institutions condition us to believe that money is bad, and people with money are bad. Religions advocate that poverty = piousness. There's this idea that to be "doing what you love" and fulfilling your dreams, you should be a sort of starving artist, sacrificing something for the joy of the work you want to do. And then there's the (often justifiable) disdain for capitalism, and the idea that everyone who is successful is also corrupt.
Consider the way you or those in your social circles speak about those who are a bit more successful than you. You'll notice that you're probably quick to point out their shortcomings, which is creating a negative subconscious association. It's interesting that we criticize most harshly those who we perceive to be just a degree above us in status, more than we would those who are significantly more successful. But it also makes sense that when we reach that nearby level of success, we begin to criticize ourselves in the same way.
