In an era where professional identity is deeply entwined with personal success, Arthur C. Brooks, a Harvard Business School professor and coauthor of Build the Life You Want: The Art and Science of Getting Happier, explores the challenges high-achieving professionals face when grappling with the fear of failure.
In a candid interview with HBR, Brooks delves into the psychological complexities of identity tied to professional accomplishment and offers a transformative perspective on addressing these fears.
Brooks identifies the intense connection many professionals feel to their success, describing this identity as “based on fear.”
Fear as a natural emotion vs. fear of professional failure
While fear itself is a natural human emotion, the fear of professional failure or the perceived loss of identity can become paralyzing.
He likens this to a “death fear,” a profound apprehension not just about career decline but about losing a core sense of self.
This fear often manifests in unhealthy behaviors and can strip away the fuller, more meaningful aspects of life.
Brooks explains that many successful individuals tie their worth solely to their work, leaving them vulnerable when faced with inevitable career transitions.
To address these anxieties, Brooks proposes an unconventional yet powerful approach.
This approach is inspired by the Maranasati death meditation from Theravada Buddhism.
Traditionally used to confront mortality, this meditation involves visualizing and contemplating one’s death to foster acceptance and presence.
Brooks adapts this method for professionals fearing the “death” of their identity at work.
He outlines a nine-step meditation process that guides individuals through a progressive visualization of professional decline.
Each step incrementally acknowledges scenarios, from the subtle recognition of losing an edge at work to the ultimate acceptance of a life beyond one’s career:
- Recognizing subtle signs of diminished performance.
- Hearing remarks from colleagues about slipping abilities.
- Imagining discussions about your potential replacement.
- Accepting the inevitability of retirement.
- Visualizing being forced out of a role.
- Coping with being remembered only for your exit.
- Returning to a workplace where few remember you.
- Adapting to a life where your professional past fades from conversations.
- Living fully in a new identity, separate from career.
Brooks emphasizes that this exercise is not negative or morbid.
Instead, it allows individuals to experience these outcomes mentally and emotionally, reducing their fear of them in reality.
By confronting these fears head-on, professionals can make peace with the impermanence of career success.
“It’s not failure,” Brooks states. “It’s normal life.”
The exercise helps individuals transcend anxiety and focus on embracing new chapters of life.
Brooks encourages people to proactively design new purposes and joys.
Success, he notes, is not eternal, but the ability to adapt and thrive in changing circumstances can lead to lasting fulfillment.
Reflecting on his own journey, Brooks shares that this mindset has brought him peace for the first time in years.
Brooks’ insights provide a valuable framework for those navigating the complexities of professional identity and fear of failure.
By confronting change with acceptance and intentionality, individuals can balance career aspirations with a richer, more grounded sense of self.
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