Strawberry Bars | & The Fear of Success🍓

These strawberry bars are the ultimate summer dessert🍓✨ Soft, buttery cookie layers filled with a homemade strawberry compote. The dough has a subtle almond-vanilla flavor and a hint of cinnamon that makes each bite feel extra delicious.

They’re super easy to make for spring brunches, BBQs, picnics, or honestly just when you need a little sweet treat. Let me know if you try them!

Scroll down for the full recipe!🍓

Want more recipes like this? Grab my ebook, Sweetly Baked for a full collection of cozy, delicious treats you’ll want to bake on repeat.😎 Start baking here!

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Something that isn’t ever talked about is the fear of success. We hear all about the fear of failure but never the opposite. It just doesn’t seem like a real fear.

Why would someone fear success?

I even convinced myself at one point that I didn’t struggle with this because there was nothing else l wanted more than success.

All I’ve ever worked for was to reach greater success or achievement so why would I be scared of it?

Until I realized something.

Every time l achieved something or got close to achieving it, l ended up self sabotaging in some way or form.

I tried to convince myself that I didn’t actually want it or care about it.

“It’s not for me.”

Or I thought to myself what if things change? What if people change? What if it’s too much to handle?

It took a lot of inward reflection and self awareness to realize this was just my fear talking. The beliefs I had surrounding success were preventing me from moving forward. I feared the outcome of stepping into my power. All of the changes that would come with it.

I was afraid to let go of my old identity.

I didn’t want to let go of my old attachments, whether it was habits, behaviors, people, environments, literally anything that was no longer serving me.

This is why so many of us stay the same. Why we don’t take any risks or go after our dreams. Because it would mean we'd have to leave behind the identity we became so attached to. Things would change in our life, and we all know that change is scary, unfamiliar and uncomfortable.

I think the way most of us view (or are told to view) successful, rich or famous people adds on to that fear surrounding success. They're usually seen as greedy, selfish, out of touch, self absorbed, superficial, you name it.

So we wonder… if we become more successful, make more money or gain more recognition, will that happen to us? Will we turn into someone we used to despise? Someone we don’t even recognize anymore?

Or worse, will people think of us in that way?

Will we receive the judgement, backlash, and/or jealous comments?

Will we be outcasted?

Will we get treated differently?

Will people think we’re too full of ourselves?

These are the thoughts that run through my head, and I’m sure some of you can relate. We constantly see influencers or celebrities getting “canceled,” hated on, ridiculed, judged, etc. No wonder none of us want to put ourselves out there! Why we’re so afraid of being seen and perceived by others. Because if we let ourselves be seen, we also open ourselves up to judgement. It’s even scarier to let ourselves be seen in our truth and authenticity because if someone comments on that, then they’re judging our very being and essence.

It’s pretty known that no one likes to be judged. Anyone who says they don’t care at all is just lying. They might not care as much as someone else, but deep down, we all want approval from others. It’s in our nature as humans.

However, it’s what we do with that information that sets us apart.

Will we let it consume us, or will we move along?

It’s not our job to make others feel secure and comfortable in themselves. It’s not our job to be digestable and relatable to others. We shouldn’t have to play it safe, shrink, or hide ourselves because others feel threatened.

And most importantly, we shouldn’t feel afraid of our success and our power.

I can’t speak for everyone, but I know this is true for a lot of us out there. We know in our soul that we are capable of SO much more. We know that we deserve better whether that’s in our career, our health, our finances, our relationships, or our life in general.

I mean DON’T YOU EVER JUST GET MAD AT YOURSELF!

You know that life should be better!

You know that you could be doing more! better!

But here you are, doing the same things everyday and getting nowhere.

Living in fear everyday.

Letting other’s opinions dictate your life.

And half of the time, no one even said anything!! We create these silly scenarios in our head of what people might say or might do.

I mean, truly, aren’t you tired of living like that?

I know I am.

But with greater success comes greater responsibility.

If we become successful, there will be higher expectations and standards for us. More pressure on us to maintain it, or maybe to exceed even higher. There will be newer, bigger responsibilities placed upon us.

What if we can’t handle this? What if it’s too hard? Too uncomfortable? What if we got lucky the first time, and now we don’t know if we can actually maintain it?

It’s so much easier to stay comfortable. To stay the victim. To complain about your circumstances and your situation just like everyone else. It’s what brings us all together after all, right? We suffer, we complain, and we live in mediocrity together and forever.

But no more of that!!!

You deserve so much more than a boring, average life. You deserve to go after your dreams. To be abundant, happy, fulfilled.

It all starts with you. No one is coming to save you. You can’t expect better if you don’t actually GIVE yourself better. You can’t expect others to show up for you if you don’t show up for yourself.

If you choose to stay small, then no one will notice you, expect anything out of you or criticize you. And maybe that’s what you want. Maybe you’re okay with that. But you also have to be okay with living a small life too.

If you choose to move past the fear, you will be met with more criticism, expectations, jealousy, responsibilities, judgement, misunderstanding, etc.

But what it I told you, it also opens you up to more opportunities, abundance, fulfillment, authentic connections, praise, community and MORE!

When you start to realize your power and come into who you are as a person, other people might feel threatened but that’s simply a them problem. It’s not yours to carry. They’re not your people anyway. You will attract those who are in awe of you. Inspired by you.

YOU will be inspired by YOU.

Your light, your authenticity, your creativity, your insights are exactly what someone is looking for.

YOU just might be exactly what you’re looking for.

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If you’re tired of living in fear but don’t know what step to take next, I invite you to look within first.

Here are a few journal prompts to work through. Find a safe space to reflect on 2-3 of these questions (or do them all if you REALLY want to elevate). Remember to let it ALL out. Don’t be afraid if it’s messy, embarrassing, cringy or whatever. You can’t grow if you don’t face your shadows.

And if you feel comfortable sharing your own thoughts or fears, always feel free to leave a comment below. But no pressure❤️:

Prompts:

• What fears come up when I imagine myself being truly successful?

• When have I self-sabotaged right before a breakthrough?

• What beliefs do I carry about successful people, and do I subconsciously apply those to myself?

• Am I afraid of being seen? Why?

• What part of my current identity am I scared to let go of?

• Who do I fear I’ll lose if I become the next-level version of myself?

• What would change in my relationships, habits, or lifestyle if I actually got everything I wanted?

• How have I been staying “small” in order to feel safe or liked?

• What version of me am I ready to step into?

• What does success look and feel like on my own terms?

• What would it feel like to take up space unapologetically?

• What am I no longer willing to tolerate from myself or others

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STRAWBERRY BARS

Ingredients

Dough:

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened

• 1 cup granulated sugar

• 2 large eggs

• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

• 1/2 tsp almond extract

• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

• 1 tsp cinnamon

• 1/2 tsp baking powder

• 1/2 tsp salt

Strawberry Filling:

• 2 1/2 cups strawberries, hulled and diced

• 1/4 cup granulated sugar

• 1 tbsp lemon juice

• 1 tbsp corn starch + 2 tbsp water, mixed together

Glaze:

• 1/2 cup powdered sugar

• 1-2 tbsps milk

Directions:

• To make the strawberry filling: In a saucepan over medium heat, combine strawberries, sugar, and lemon juice. Cook for 5–8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the strawberries soften and start to break down.

• In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and water to make a slurry. Pour into the strawberry mixture and stir well.

• Cook for 1–2 more minutes until the filling thickens and looks glossy. Remove it from the heat and let it cool.

• Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line an 8x8 pan with parchment paper. Set aside.

• In a bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt. Set aside.

• In a medium bowl, cream together the butter and sugar for 3-5 minutes.

• Add the eggs, vanilla, and almond extract, mixing until fully combined.

• Add the dry mixture and mix until just incorporated. Reserve 1/3 of dough.

• Press the remaining dough into the prepared pan and top with strawberry filling.

• Drop the reserved dough in small pieces over the filling.

• Bake for 45–50 minutes or until golden brown. Let the bars cool completely.

• Whisk together the powdered sugar and milk to make the glaze and drizzle over the bars.

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