The Antidote to Fear of Success

Fear of success stops people from living true to their potential almost as much as a fear of failure. But you don’t need to fear success if you’re prepared to embrace the concept of a grace bank account. Of course, having a grace bank account is a metaphor. In an archetypal context, your grace bank account is an accumulation of your positive energy, your compassion and acts of kindness, and useful contributions to the wellbeing of others and the planet. You accrue spiritual merit by living an ethically upright life. Your grace bank account grows with every positive action in the same way a financial bank account grows with deposits.

Like me, at times when you’ve recognised that a part of you is afraid of success, you might sense that at the heart of this fear in another fear. You’re afraid that more earthly power or financial success will corrupt your inner power, your principles, values, and ethics, and turn you into a moral bankrupt, incapable of compassion. (The world is full of examples that indicate what-not-to-do.)

Instead, open your mind to the idea of a grace bank account so that you strike a healthy balance between material and spiritual wealth. While you might be passionate about money and material wealth, focusing on building a grace bank account can help you achieve a more balanced life. Spiritual or ethical wealth provides a counterbalance to material wealth. This ensures that your pursuit of wealth doesn’t overshadow the importance of your relationships, your community, the earth, and your soul. 

You don’t need to be afraid of success if you put it work. Embracing the concept of building and maintaining a healthy grace bank account means you’re more inclined to give back. This might be through mentoring, philanthropy, or everyday acts of kindness. You can transform your wealth into a force for good. This not only benefits others but also enriches you with an inner sense of purpose and fulfillment that goes far beyond financial success.

While material success is fleeting, the benefits of a well-stocked grace bank account can last a lifetime. The goodwill, respect, and love earned through your positive actions can translate into lasting personal and professional relationships, a strong reputation, and a sense of inner peace and fulfillment. This is what contributes to long-term success and a sense of body, soul and spiritual well-being. 

You can protect yourself against greed, attract positive opportunities and build a lasting legacy. The well-known story of King Midas teaches us that an excessive focus on material wealth can lead to personal disaster. Accumulating grace helps protect you against the pitfalls of greed or a lack of empathy and compassion. By regularly depositing kind thoughts, compassion and good deeds into your grace bank account, you’re less likely to fall into the trap of choosing wealth over human connections, ethics and values.

When you build up your grace bank account, you might find that your material pursuits are more likely to be successful and sustainable because they align with your higher principles. I’m talking about those that reflect your true, authentic Self, which is sacred.

When you treat your Sacred Self and others well, and when you do something good—like helping others in need, showing compassion or kindness, living your highest principles, or acting with integrity—you’re making a deposit into your grace bank account. These actions accumulate spiritual credit.

But.

Your intentions matter. The intention behind your action needs to be without a personal agenda. Acts done with selfless intentions contribute to your grace bank account far more than those done for selfish reasons, personal gain, reward or recognition.

In the same way you can draw on a financial bank account in times of need, your grace bank account can provide you with spiritual support during difficult times. The positive energy or spiritual merit you’ve accumulated can boost your inner strength, and help you attract better opportunities into your life. 

Think of grace as a flowing spiritual currency. It’s high quality, life giving and life affirming energy that flows in and out of you. By sending grace to others—through forgiveness, kindness, empathy, compassion, appreciation, understanding, and by giving them your attention—you not only help others but also keep your own grace bank account replenished.

While one antidote to fear of success is to build up your grace bank account, you also need to make sure you know how to balance your personal energy budget.

Yes, the fear of moral or ethical bankruptcy and corruption might underlie your fear of success, but you don’t need to let it undermine you. The antidote to fear of success is to grow your grace bank account, question your intentions, and stay on top of your personal energy budget. Do this so that you give freely, without risking the health of your body, soul and spirit. The fear of failing to be a success is reduced when you live your life filled with invisible acts of generosity, positive energy, and ethical living.

Boost your grace bank account, question your intentions and agenda, and learn how to manage your personal energy budget so that you give freely, without risking the health of your body, soul and spirit.

Gail Goodwin 2025

Investing your body, soul and spirit into your grace bank account not only benefits you. It also contributes to the collective grace in your community and society. When more of us engage in positive, constructive actions, maybe we can raise the spiritual and ethical wealth of the collective soul. Right now, we have nothing to lose.