Do you ever feel caught between the relentless pursuit of success and the fear of failure? In this episode of INHABIT with Alessia Citro, I share how shifting my focus from the temporal to the eternal has helped me find freedom from both. For years, I was driven by the need to achieve, to be seen, and to prove my worth. But beneath it all, fear was always lurking—fear of not being enough, fear of rejection, and fear of falling short.

This episode is about reorienting your focus and finding peace by letting go of the need for worldly validation. At the heart of this transformation is the Litany of Humility, a prayer that is helping me release my fears and redefine success. By focusing on the eternal, I’m learning to quiet the noise of self-doubt and step into a life of purpose and clarity. If you’ve ever felt trapped by the pressure to succeed or the fear of failure, this episode—and this prayer—offers a new way forward.

The Tension Between Success and Fear

Generally, I’ve believed that success was the answer to everything. If I could just achieve more, earn more, or be more, I I’d finally feel fulfilled. But no matter how much I accomplished, the void was never filled.

Fear and the pursuit of success are often two sides of the same coin. Fearing failure while chasing success. What if I’m not good enough? What if my work doesn’t measure up? What if I’m misunderstood? These questions often consume me, and I realized I was prioritizing the temporal—worldly achievements and recognition—over the eternal.

When I began to shift my focus to the eternal, everything began to change. I am beginning to understand that true freedom doesn’t come from achieving more; it comes from trusting in God’s plan and letting go of the fears that hold us back. For me, casting my fears and burdens to Jesus has alleviated a ton of pressure—and worry.

The Litany of Humility: A Prayer for Freedom

Last week was Ash Wednesday, and following the breadcrumbs of this faith journey, I found myself in the Hallow app after leaving mass, and for the first time, heard the Litany of Humility. This prayer, written in the early 1900s by Cardinal Rafael Merry del Val, who was Secretary of State to Pope Pius X, is a powerful reminder to let go of the desires and fears that keep us trapped in the temporal. It’s a prayer that challenges us to embrace humility and trust in something greater than ourselves.

Here’s the full prayer:

O Jesus! meek and humble of heart, Hear me.

From the desire of being esteemed,

Deliver me, Jesus.

From the desire of being loved,

Deliver me, Jesus.

From the desire of being extolled,

Deliver me, Jesus.

From the desire of being honored,

Deliver me, Jesus.

From the desire of being praised,

Deliver me, Jesus.

From the desire of being preferred to others,

Deliver me, Jesus.

From the desire of being consulted,

Deliver me, Jesus.

From the desire of being approved,

Deliver me, Jesus.

From the fear of being humiliated,

Deliver me, Jesus.

From the fear of being despised,

Deliver me, Jesus.

From the fear of suffering rebukes,

Deliver me, Jesus.

From the fear of being calumniated,

Deliver me, Jesus.

From the fear of being forgotten,

Deliver me, Jesus.

From the fear of being ridiculed,

Deliver me, Jesus.

From the fear of being wronged,

Deliver me, Jesus.

From the fear of being suspected,

Deliver me, Jesus.

That others may be loved more than I,

Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

That others may be esteemed more than I,

Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

That, in the opinion of the world, others may increase and I may decrease,

Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

That others may be chosen and I set aside,

Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

That others may be praised and I unnoticed,

Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

That others may be preferred to me in everything,

Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

That others may become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should,

Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

Amen.

This prayer feels like a lifeline to me. It’s not easy to pray for humility or to ask for the grace to let go of fears and ambition, but the freedom that comes from doing so often enough might just change everything.

Lessons on Balancing Success and Fear

Here are some of the most important lessons I’m learning from shifting my focus from the temporal to the eternal:

• Fear thrives in the pursuit of success. When we focus solely on worldly achievements, fear of failure and rejection can take over. Shifting to an eternal perspective helps us let go of these fears. It’s so much bigger than me.
• True success is eternal. Worldly success is temporary, but aligning with God’s purpose brings lasting peace and fulfillment.
• Faith is the antidote to fear. Trusting in God’s plan allows us to release the need to control outcomes and quiet the voice of self-doubt.
• Humility brings freedom. Letting go of the need for validation and recognition frees us to live with peace and purpose.
• Prayer is transformative. The Litany of Humility is a powerful ability for reorienting your focus and finding freedom from fear and the pressures of success.

Redefining Success and Moving Past Fear

Reorienting my focus from the temporal to the eternal hasn’t been easy (and continues to be a daily practice), but it’s been one of the most rewarding changes I’ve ever made. By letting go of fear and redefining success, and calling on Jesus to help me be more present in the eternal moment of now, I’m finding a cellular level of peace and freedom that had previously evaded me.

If you’re feeling stuck in fear or weighed down by the pressure to succeed, try saying and reflecting on the Litany of Humility and consider how you can reorient your focus. Moving past fear and redefining success isn’t about achieving more or being “enough” in the eyes of the world—it’s about trusting that you already are enough in the eyes of God.

Call-to-Action

Give Episode 184 a listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. If this episode resonated with you, share it with a friend or leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. Let’s continue this journey of faith, humility, and freedom together.

PS: 90% of this blog post was generated by AI. Want to learn how I do this in 5 minutes or less? I teach this and more in The Audio Authority Blueprint Podcast [Systems Only] program. Click here to learn more.