Why some jobs trigger old fears

"Work has a way of waking up parts of us we thought we'd outgrown. You can move forward professionally, take on more visible roles, and be widely regarded as capable -and still find yourself unsettled by moments that seem, on the surface, fairly ordinary. A comment lingers longer than expected. A meeting leaves you tense for days. A role you worked hard to earn suddenly feels exposing rather than energizing."

"Consider Anna, a senior public health leader who had built a reputation for sound judgment and steady leadership. When she accepted a high-profile role in government, it looked like a natural next step. Internally, it felt like a step backward. Almost immediately, she began doubting herself in ways that were unfamiliar. She grew anxious before meetings and unusually sensitive to tone and hierarchy. After speaking, she would replay her comments, convinced she'd revealed some fundamental gap."

Work can reactivate unresolved patterns from earlier career stages, producing unexpected anxiety, sensitivity to hierarchy, and self-doubt even after promotions. Ordinary workplace moments can trigger prolonged rumination and feelings of exposure despite positive feedback and competent performance. Internal responses frequently reflect past experiences rather than present realities, causing capable leaders to question themselves. Recognizing that discomfort often stems from earlier career shaping can help differentiate objective performance from emotional reaction. Awareness of these patterns supports targeted strategies to rebuild confidence, manage reactivity, and align internal experience with external success in new or higher-profile roles.

Read at Fast Company