Being highly successful comes with plenty of benefits. People dream of success, and no matter what your definition of the word is, reaching that goal can give you an unmatched sense of pride and confidence.
Unfortunately, success can also come with a personal price.
Many highly successful people feel as though they have to appear a certain way to remain at the top. If you feel like you can’t show emotion openly because you’re worried it will make you look weak, you’ll start to harbor stress and anxiety.
If you live with a constant fear that you’re going to fail or disappoint those who look up to you, anxiety will start to rear its ugly head, too.
Highly successful people need to own their vulnerability. You can still be a great success while letting your emotions come through. Let’s uncover the steps you can take to make it happen.
Be Willing to Change
The first step in owning your vulnerability is accepting that you must change. Change isn’t always easy, but it’s often necessary. You can’t open yourself up if you’re trying to stay on the same path and do the same things that are keeping you stuck now.
Accepting that change will happen whether you like it or not, you’ll be more open and accepting of it. You’ll become more adaptable and flexible, and you might even feel like you can loosen up a bit.
That doesn’t mean you need to change everything in your career or personal life overnight. It’s okay to take baby steps. But as you get started and step outside of the comfort zone you’ve created, remind yourself that change is necessary and good.
Practice Mindfulness
Mindfulness is more than just a buzzword. Integrating more mindfulness practices into your life can help to reduce anxiety and stress and make you more aware of your own thoughts and emotions.
There are different ways you can use mindfulness to own vulnerability. First, make it a part of your daily routine. As you start your day, take a few minutes to close your eyes and focus on taking slow, deep breaths. Think about how your mind and body feel at that very moment. Listen to the sounds around you, and tune into your senses rather than letting your thoughts wander.
You can also use mindfulness to let your vulnerability show in stressful situations. Because mindfulness keeps you grounded in the present, it encourages you to feel more secure in your emotions. You’ll have an easier time expressing yourself when things get hard without worrying about what people might think or how it might impact your future.
Let Your True Colors Shine
Even if you’re highly successful, you could limit yourself by keeping your emotions inside and staying in your comfort zone.
The greatest success stories often come from big failures. You won't get big rewards if you don’t take big risks. Could you stumble along the way? Of course. But you can use those setbacks as learning experiences. You’ll fine-tune your strategies and ideas and never know who you might inspire.
Being yourself and taking risks also invites you to work with others more openly. You’ll become a leader who also knows how to work with a team. The closer you get to people, even in a professional setting, the easier it will be for new, fresh ideas to create something bigger than yourself.
You don’t have to wear a mask or fear the unknown because you’re highly successful. Take the confidence you’ve built up over the years and use it to own vulnerability. Reach out to us to learn more about anxiety therapy and how it can help you on your journey to success and growth.