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

Hormonal storm: a dopamine hit

When you achieve success (victory in a competition, a promotion, a big deal), the brain releases dopamine — the 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 is often accompanied by an increase in testosterone (in men), which enhances confidence, sometimes to the level of overconfidence. Biochemistry temporarily turns off critical thinking. You start believing that you are unique, infallible, chosen. This is the "dizzy head."

Dunning-Kruger effect in reverse

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 fields. "If I'm good in business, then I must be knowledgeable in politics and parenting." This is the cognitive distortion of "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 sycophants

Success attracts people who want to be close to a "star." Sycophants, flatterers, those who need something from you. They rarely tell the truth. The circle of communication narrows down 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 "the people love you," and any attacks are "envy from failures." Your head spins from this echo.

Illusion of control: I can do anything

Success gives rise to the illusion of control. It seems that you are controlling events, not the other way around. But life is more complicated. Success often depends on luck, the right time, the help of others. However, it is natural for people to attribute success to themselves (self-sufficiency) and attribute failures to external circumstances. Over time, this habit becomes entrenched. You start taking risks where there is no need for risk. Remember the stories of failed bankers or celebrities who opened their business without knowledge and failed. They were simply dizzy.

Star syndrome: how success changes the personality

Star syndrome is a complex of behavioral changes: refusing 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 things (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 more and more 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: write down every evening who you owe your success to (not just yourself). The third is to continue learning. Success should not be the end, but an stage. The fourth is to help others. Paradox: the more you give, the less you risk becoming conceited. The fifth is not to forget about your former "unsuccessful" self. Keep a diary, read your entries from five years ago. This is sobering.

Conclusion

Success is not the end, but a test. A test of character. Some fail, become tyrants, and end up alone. Some keep 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 in time, drink water, and look at the sky. It is the same as on the day of your first small success. Do not forget this.
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