5 Reasons People Can’t Handle Your Growth — And How Tall Poppy Syndrome Is Behind It All

Have you ever been made to feel bad for doing well? Maybe someone rolled their eyes at your good grades, mocked your promotion, or made you feel guilty for being happy. This kind of reaction comes from something called Tall Poppy Syndrome, when people try to cut others down just because they stand out. The name comes from the idea of a garden full of poppy flowers, if one poppy grows taller than the rest, it’s the first to be cut. This happens in real life too, when people try to pull down those who rise higher in life, school, or work.

5 Reasons Why Some People Have Tall Poppy Syndrome 

1. The Fear of Standing Out

Many people grow up learning to “fit in.” In some societies, standing out can feel dangerous, especially in places where leaders or people in power don’t want others to challenge them. That’s why, in history, powerful rulers often tried to silence smart, talented, or independent people. They believed that keeping everyone “equal” would help them stay in control. But in doing so, they hurt progress and creativity.

2. Envy Hides Behind Kind Faces

At the heart of this syndrome is envy, a feeling that someone else has something we want but don’t have. Instead of feeling inspired by others’ success, envious people feel angry or insecure. It’s easier for them to bring others down than to lift themselves up. They may gossip, criticize, or make jokes that sound harmless but are meant to hurt.

3. Comfort in Conformity

For some people, it feels safer when everyone stays the same. If no one stands out, no one feels left behind. But this comfort can lead to mediocrity, where no one tries to improve or innovate. This is one of the biggest dangers of Tall Poppy Syndrome, it kills creativity. When people are afraid of being judged for doing well, they stop trying to do great things.

4. Power and Control

Tall Poppy Syndrome is also a tool for control. In history, some leaders targeted the educated and talented because they saw them as threats. By removing the “tall poppies,” they kept people equal, but also powerless. Even today, this happens in workplaces and social circles, where those in charge try to limit the growth of others to protect their own position.

5. The Cost of Cutting Down Others

When society keeps cutting down its tall poppies, everyone loses. The dreamers, thinkers, and doers, the people who could bring change, stop shining. As American businessman Benjamin Fairless once said, “You can’t make a dwarf taller by cutting off a giant’s leg.” When people destroy others’ success instead of building their own, they block progress for everyone.

The truth is, a society that fears success will never grow. We need people who dream big, who take risks, and who are brave enough to stand tall. The next time someone tries to make you feel bad for doing well, remember, it’s not about you. It’s about their fear. Don’t shrink to make others comfortable. Be the tall poppy that keeps growing, no matter how many try to cut you down.