Friday, November 1, 2013

The Jonah Complex

The Jonah Complex is the fear of success which prevents self-actualization, or the realization of one's potential.[1][2] It is the fear of one's own greatness, the evasion of one's destiny, or the avoidance of exercising one's talents.[1][3] Just as the fear of achieving a personal worst can motivate personal growth, the fear of achieving a personal best can also hinder achievement. Potential what a great thing to have. Some folks draw strength from knowing and having their potential recognized by others. Then there are people like myself that feel potential is merely a piece of the puzzle. Potential don't feed kids nor pay bills. I remembered being asked by Dr. Goodman many years ago "son do you have a fear of success" back then it didn't make much sense but in recent years I find myself revisiting this conversation. The Jonah Complex was one of the first things I found as I began to see if such a fear even really existed. I have been told many times before that I can be pessimistic at times, but if the end result of many situations always ends up with you taking a lost then pessimism may easily become the way you perceive the world in which you live in. If you take out a piece of paper and drew a line right down the center, labeling one side good one side bad which side would have the most data? Bad things that happen tend to stay in the front of your mind often detaching you from the belief that good things can happen. Why put my best foot forward? So others can take credit for my good deed? Should others benefit more than I do or for it to be abused and for granted? Is a thank you too much to ask for? We all heard it before "perception is reality". When struggling becomes the norm and losing becomes all too familiar to you its easy to lose sight of potential, and find no gratification in striving for greatness because the scars of previous attempts have yet to heal. Jonah complex or simply a phase time will tell........

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