Cronos Syndrome, Fear Of Being Displaced

Most of the problems people encounter in relation to their goals have to do with the steps that lead to them. For almost all of us,  the path to what we want requires a lot of effort and perseverance  and that is why we take care not to take false steps. However, phenomena such as Cronos syndrome tell us that achieving our goals is not everything.

We are talking about the  fear that some people feel about losing what they have worked so hard to achieve. It usually applies to the business world; but the symptoms can also appear in relation to other areas of our life. If you are close to reaching your goals or have already achieved them, it is quite likely that Cronos syndrome is going to knock on your door at some point.

What exactly is Cronos syndrome?

This problem, with such a peculiar name,  is used to speak of the fear of being displaced by others in areas of our life that are important to us. For example, a senior manager in a company might fear that one of his subordinates will try to take over his position. Thus, this idea could put extra pressure, giving way to stress and anxiety, as well as trying to sabotage those you fear.

On the other hand, Cronos syndrome is associated with envy. In any area in which it occurs, the person who suffers it would feel jealous of the achievements of others. Therefore, it is consistent with our scheme that I try to belittle them and undermine their self-confidence. All this, with the intention that they never surpass what he himself has achieved.

Of course,  one of the main accelerators of this problem is the lack of self-esteem. When someone is self-confident, they usually do not need to feel superior to the rest. Thus, on the contrary, the opposite phenomenon occurs, giving way to self-affirming behaviors.

Where does the name come from?

Cronos syndrome takes its name from Greek mythology. In it, Cronos was one of the first gods, son of Uranus (the creator of the Universe according to this culture). In his youth, this deity  defeated his father to take his place as lord of all living beings,  but for this action he had to pay a heavy price.

Because he had done it himself, Cronos  was afraid that his own sons would try to finish him off. Therefore, as his descendants were born, he ate them. However, thanks to the help of the goddess Era, one of them managed to save himself: Zeus. When he reached adulthood, he faced his father and defeated him, saving his brothers and becoming the new lord of the Universe.

People with Cronos syndrome share certain similarities with the Greek god. Their biggest concern is  that those below them try to take away their position. But, in general, when they try to protect themselves against this possibility, they end up creating more problems than they solve and even promoting what they fear so much.

Thus, the subordinates of someone with this syndrome  will tend to feel very unhappy. This can cause them to try to sabotage you, something that would not have happened had this problem not existed.

How to combat Cronos syndrome?

Below you will find several tools to mitigate the effect of this syndrome.

• Work on your self esteem. Although they do not share it, people with this syndrome often believe that they are not good enough. Therefore, if you want to end it, you will have to learn to trust yourself. Only then will you realize that you are unique and that you, as such, it is impossible to replace yourself.
• Seek excellence. It does not matter in which area the Cronos syndrome occurs. If you want to avoid the fear of being displaced, strive to find the best version of you.
• Accept that you can’t always win . Finally, you will have to live with an idea: you will not always be able to be the best, even if you dedicate your life to it. However, does that mean that you can’t live the life you want? At the end of the day, surely there are goals within your reach that satisfy you. If you put in the effort, you will surely be able to achieve an even better situation than the one you have right now.

Chronos syndrome can be a very serious obstacle for those who are struggling to achieve their goals. However,  with a little perseverance it is possible to defeat this fear. If you have felt identified with what you have read, get down to work.