English: First hurdle overcome! Next part of the beach, looking away from Durdle Pier, below YOI. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear
is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness,
that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous,
talented and fabulous?
Actually who are we not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small doesn’t serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking
so that other people
won’t feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine as children do.
We were born to make manifest
the glory of God that is within us.
It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone.
And when we let our own light shine,
we unconsciously give other people
permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear,
our presence automatically liberates others.
Have you ever felt that you’re born for a particular purpose, that you’re destined for greatness? Do you have a calling that you have tried to deny for a long time, fearing that you are not good enough or that it’s impossible?
A few months from now, in October to be exact, I will be facing one of the biggest giants in my life; a test that will separate the boys from the men; a test that will decide a future filled with responsibilities. A storm is raging within me, confused, fearful yet excited; I know I wanted to excel in this field, to achieve something beyond what the average person deems possible. But then again, there is this inner fear that seems to drag me down, wrecking havoc on my calm disposition; a denial that has led me to thinking of the “what ifs” of living a simple life, of less responsibilities, something less. One thing is for sure, I want to succeed and pursue greatness, to live the life written for me long before I was born.
Abraham Maslow called this the Jonah Complex. According to him, it is “The evasion of one’s own growth, the setting of low levels of aspiration, the fear of doing what one is capable of doing, voluntary self-crippling, pseudo-stupidity, mock humility.” The Wikipedia says that this originated from Maslow’s friend Professor Frank Manuel. According to the Wikipedia: “The Jonah Complex is the fear of success which prevents self-actualization, or the realization of one’s potential. It is the fear of one’s own greatness, the evasion of one’s destiny, or the avoidance of exercising one’s talents.” The description is from Maslow’s “The Farther Reaches of Human Nature“. The theory is from the story of Jonah, a character in the bible called to preach in Nineveh but chose to run away thinking he’s not good enough but God has his way of saying otherwise, and bringing into completion what Jonah was called for.
Fear of failure is bad enough, and fear of success cripples us. Fear hinders our growth, it suppresses our potential.
The bible encourages courage and determination, it says: “For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11
“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:34
Embrace the calling, follow the path to greatness. 🙂
Yue Learns 
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