Q: Before you can begin to overcome a fear of success, you have to understand what success means to you. Even though it may be tough to pinpoint specifically what being successful means to you, doing this will help you understand exactly what it is you’re fearing.   Be sure to identify your vision for personal and professional success. Ask yourself, “What does success look and feel like to me? How will I know if I’m successful? What will I do and how will I act when I’m successful?” Write down as your answers to these questions. Include answers that may not seem to relate to success if they pop into your head. For example, if you think “Success looks like luxury,” write that. Be as specific as possible. For example, instead of writing, “If I have a lot of money I’ll know I’m successful,” write something like, “I’ll know I’m successful when I have $10 million in savings.” Sometimes when we are afraid we can recognize the feeling, but not still understand exactly what we’re afraid of. In order to overcome your fear, you have to ask yourself what specifically you are afraid of and where the fear cam from. Once you know what you’re really afraid of, you can work to overcome your fear.   Try asking yourself, “Am I fearful of this because someone put it in my head? Or, is it based on past mistakes or failures?” If the fear is truly unfounded, this may help you let go of it. Look over your list of definitions of success. Think about each item on the list and how you feel about it. For instance, if success is winning a football championship, how will you feel if you do win? Write a few words that describe how you feel about each item. For instance, if you wrote “success is graduating,” you might write, “means I’m not a child anymore; makes me nervous about responsibilities.” Pay attention to signs of success that give you negative feelings. For example, if you listed financial security as a sign of success and you noted it makes you think of loneliness, you may want to explore why this is. Being honest with yourself about just how your fear of success is holding you back is one way to overcome it. Take some time to think about specific ways in which your fear of success is limiting your potential and your future success.  Write down examples of how you have sabotaged yourself. For instance, you might write, “I procrastinated on my report.” Also, write about what might have happened if you hadn’t let your fear hold you back. For example, you may write something like, “I could have gotten the raise and afford the vacation I want.” Take a moment to thoroughly visualize yourself succeeding. Positive visualizations may help to eliminate your fear. Writing a short statement declaring that you aren’t going to let fear stop you from succeeding and reaching your goals any more is a concrete way to overcome your fear. Doing this can help you improve your self-confidence, as well as remind you that your fear of success doesn’t control your life.  Write a sentence or two along the lines of, “I am not a victim of my fear. I am not afraid of success. I will be successful and I will enjoy it.” Read your statement out-loud on a regular basis. For instance, you might read it before work each morning or before a major presentation. You can also read your declaration to an accountability partner who can help keep you focused on your goal. You may be more likely to follow through with things if someone is holding you accountable.
A: Ask yourself how you define success. Question what about success scares you. Determine how fear is limiting you. Declare defeat of your fear.

Q: Although jogging and walking seem to be the norm, there are many other workouts you and your best bud can do together.  Mixing up your exercise routine can help prevent boredom; variety also helps ensure that neither of you are overworking some muscles at the expense of others. Especially if you have a dog that loves water (such as an Irish Water Spaniel), swim a few laps with your pal. Keep an eye on your dog throughout the swim to ensure he isn’t struggling or having trouble while in the water––some dogs may need a flotation device to help keep their head above water.  This is a good exercise for dogs with joint problems. However, you may not be able to do a lot of lap swimming if you need to keep an eye on your dog––keep this in mind when selecting this as a team exercise. If your dog does not feel comfortable in the water, don't put them in. Like people, some dogs — even if they belong to a supposedly water-loving breed — simply never become good swimmers.  Give it a try, but don’t force the issue. Make an obstacle course (hurdles, tunnels, ropes, etc.) for your dog.  Use the same obstacles, or create comparable ones, for yourself. Running, jumping and crawling are a great way to use different muscles.  They also spur both of you to exercise another important muscle––the brain. In the meantime, you have the obligation to keep up! As with every other human-plus-dog exercise routine, keep in mind your respective fitness levels and watch for signs of exhaustion or injury. A slow bike ride with your dog by your side is a great way to help your pup expend some pent up energy. Keep an eye on your dog throughout the entire ride. Your dog is expending considerably more energy than you, so look for telltale signs that he is pooped. Also be sure to take breaks for your dog as they need to do their business.  For bigger and more athletic dogs, you might try “bikejoring.”  This exercise involves connecting your dog to the bike with a harness so he can pull and run while you ride.  The winter equivalent to “bikejoring” is cross-country “skijoring.”  Winter sports can be a blast with your dog.  Instead of taking a brisk walk in the snow, strap on some cross country skis and work out with your pup by your side. Slipping some wheels on your feet can make for an enjoyable exercise time for the two of you. However, only a fully confident rollerblader/skater should attempt to perform this workout with their dog. Also, make sure your pup has mastered the skill of heel and is generally obedient so he doesn’t pull you off the path. Make sure to wear a helmet and proper safety equipment, even if you are an expert roller.  You never know when your canine pal may dart off after a rabbit or toward a hot dog cart. ” This is a cross between yoga and dog––so obviously it's yoga with your dog! This can be a calm and pleasant workout experience for the two of you; look for a class in your area. If there isn't a class, check out videos online and follow the instructions with care. Not surprisingly, some dogs may simply be too active or high-strung for “doga.”  But it’s worth a try.
A:
Expand your exercise horizons with your canine pal. Try swimming. Give agility training a go. Give cycling a spin. Consider rollerblading or roller skating. Dive into “doga.