Success. Like champagne, it hits you on the head. The person who was at rock bottom yesterday feels like a master of the world today. Why does this happen? It seems that there should be joy and joy. But success is not just pleasant bonuses, but also a powerful neurochemical hit that changes a person. In this article, we will discuss how victory turns a modest person into a self-loving narcissist and how not to lose oneself at the top.

Hormonal storm: a dopamine hit

When you achieve success (winning a competition, a promotion, a major deal), the brain releases dopamine — a hormone of pleasure and reward. This is pleasant. But the problem is that dopamine causes addiction. The brain requires repetition. People start chasing new achievements not for the meaning, but for the next "dose". Moreover, success often goes hand in hand with an increase in testosterone (in men), which enhances confidence, sometimes to the point of overconfidence. Biochemistry temporarily turns off critical thinking. You start believing that you are unique, infallible, chosen. This is what we call "a dizzy head".

The reverse Dunning-Kruger effect

A well-known cognitive effect: incompetent people overestimate themselves, while professionals tend to undervalue. With success, the opposite occurs: a person who has reached one peak extrapolates this success to all other areas. "If I'm great in business, then I understand politics and parenting". This is a cognitive distortion called "false uniqueness". Success convinces you that you are exceptional, and your opinion on any issue is more important than others. You stop listening to advice, even if you are a novice in the subject.

Social environment: the trap of flatterers

Success attracts people who want to be around a "star". Sycophants, flatterers, those who need something from you. They rarely speak the truth. The circle of communication narrows to "advisors" who agree with everything. This creates an information bubble. You stop getting feedback. Any of your ideas are perceived as brilliant. Gradually, you lose touch with reality: you start thinking that "people love you", and any attacks are "jealousy of failures". Your head spins from this echo.

Illusion of control: I can do it all

Success breeds an illusion of control. It seems that you are in control of events, not the other way around. But life is more complex. Success often depends on luck, the right time, help from others. However, people tend to attribute credit for success to themselves (self-help) and blame failures on external circumstances. Over time, this habit becomes entrenched. You start taking risks where there is no need. Think of the stories of failed bankers or celebrity business failures who opened their business without knowledge and went broke. They were simply dizzy.

Star syndrome: how success changes a person's personality

Star syndrome is a complex of behavioral changes: refusal of old friends, switching to "you" with subordinates, demanding special conditions, inability to apologize. The basis is the fear of becoming "nobody" again. People start building walls of status items (expensive watches, cars, yachts) to confirm their significance. Inside, however, there is an emptiness: previous goals have been achieved, new ones have not been set, and hedonistic adaptation makes the joy of success increasingly short-lived. Your head spins, but there is no joy.

How not to lose your head from success

The first way is to stay in touch with critically-minded people. Make a friend who will tell you the truth to your face. The second is the practice of gratitude and reflection: every evening write down who you owe your success to (not just yourself). The third is to keep learning. Success should not be the end, but a stage. The fourth is to help others. The paradox: the more you give, the less you risk becoming conceited. The fifth is not to forget about your former "failed" self. Keep a diary, read your entries from five years ago. It clears your head.

Conclusion

Success is not the end, but a test. A test of character. Some fail, become tyrants, and end up alone. Others maintain their human face, continue to grow, and remain happy. Your head can spin at any time. It is important to sit down on the bench, drink some water, and look at the sky. It's the same as on the day of your first small success. Don't forget about this.

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