Deep within each of us lies an incredible inheritance – a profound sense of connection to our highest possibilities, a whisper of the greatness we could achieve. It's that feeling, that potential for "flight," that is a fundamental part of being human. Yet, strangely, this very potential often frightens us. We find ourselves retreating from it, preferring the perceived safety of the familiar, the "sidewalk," rather than soaring towards our own peaks.

Abraham Maslow, a towering figure in 20th-century psychology, believed firmly in this internal drive towards growth, towards what he termed our "highest possibilities" or self-actualization. He observed, however, that while the urge is universal, few truly reach for significant achievements. Why? Maslow suggested one powerful reason: we are often afraid of our own potential, perhaps even more than we desire it. We fear the very best within us, the capabilities we glimpse in moments of clarity and courage. In those peak moments, we might feel awe at our own potential, seeing glimpses of something almost divine within ourselves. But this awe is quickly followed by a tremor of fear, a shrinking away. Maslow named this the "Jonah complex," referencing the biblical figure who attempted to flee from the destiny he felt was laid out for him.

The Push and Pull: Two Fundamental Fears

Psychologist Otto Rank offered a compelling lens through which to understand this hesitation. He proposed that human life is shaped by two primary fears: the fear of death and the fear of life. The fear of death, Rank suggested, isn't just about physical ending. It's also about psychological death – the fading of our individuality when we conform too much to societal expectations. This fear pushes us to differentiate ourselves, to express our uniqueness, to truly "exist" in the original sense of the word: to stand out, to emerge.

However, standing out too much brings its own anxieties. It can lead to isolation, to losing the comforting sense of belonging within the group. This is what Rank termed the fear of life – the fear of loneliness and separation that comes with being truly individual. This fear pulls us back towards conformity, encouraging us to dampen our uniqueness to maintain connection. We are constantly navigating between these two poles: the drive to be unique (fueled by fear of psychological death) and the drive to belong (fueled by fear of life). For many, Rank observed, the fear of life holds greater sway. The dread of standing alone often overrides the urge to fully express our unique potential. This ties directly into the fear of greatness – greatness often requires standing apart, and the fear of the resulting isolation holds us back.

The Shadow of Feeling Small

Adding another layer to this complexity, writer Colin Wilson noted a pervasive sense of personal insignificance in modern thought. He spoke of an "unheroic hypothesis" – a widespread feeling of defeat, futility, or smallness that seemed to permeate much of contemporary culture. When faced with the question of whether humans are more like gods or worms, Wilson felt the modern era leaned heavily towards the latter. This belief system naturally makes it harder for people to strive for greatness; if you fundamentally believe you are insignificant, aiming high feels delusional.

Maslow encountered this firsthand. He would ask his students who among them planned to write a great novel, become a leader, or achieve something remarkable. The typical reaction? Embarrassed giggles, shrugs, blushing. His follow-up question was pointed: "If not you, then who?" He warned them directly: settling for less than you are capable of is a recipe for deep unhappiness. Maslow saw their discomfort as stemming from an inability to reconcile their glimpses of "godlike" potential with the fear that such aspirations might be mere arrogance or delusion (part of the Jonah complex). To avoid this perceived danger, many default to the "worm" perspective, considering themselves incapable of anything truly significant.

Finding the Balance: Courage with Humility

Maslow argued that both extremes – seeing oneself solely as a god or solely as a worm – are equally detrimental. The path forward, the way to overcome the fear of greatness, lies in finding a middle ground. It requires learning to pursue our highest aims with boldness while simultaneously maintaining a grounded sense of humility. We need what Maslow termed "creative impudence" – the audacity to try, to invent, to create – but it must be tempered with the humble recognition of our human limits.

He suggested that an essential part of this balance is the ability to laugh at ourselves, to acknowledge the inherent absurdity and challenge in a limited human ("worm") striving for something transcendent ("god"). If you can approach your potential with both bold courage and a sense of humor about your own human fallibility, you can move forward. You can embrace your possibilities without succumbing to paralyzing fear or unhealthy arrogance. This mindful balance allows us to strive, to reach, without being crippled by the fear of our own potential light or the judgment of others.

References:

• Maslow, A. H. (1971). The Farther Reaches of Human Nature. Viking Press.
  This book compiles many of Maslow's later essays. It delves deeply into concepts like self-actualization, peak experiences, and importantly for this article, the "Jonah complex." Maslow discusses the fear of one's own greatness, the reasons people evade their potential, and the necessity of integrating both the 'godlike' aspirations and humble realities of human nature. Look particularly for discussions around growth, self-actualization, and defenses against growth.
• Rank, O. (1932). Art and Artist: Creative Urge and Personality Development. Alfred A. Knopf.
  While focused on creativity and the artist, this work lays out Rank's core ideas about the fundamental conflict between the drive for individuation (related to the "fear of death" – losing oneself) and the drive for connection/union (related to the "fear of life" – isolation). The text explores how this dynamic shapes personality and the creative process, providing the foundation for understanding why the pull towards conformity can inhibit the expression of unique potential discussed in the article. The core concepts are woven throughout the text's exploration of the artist's psychology.
• Wilson, C. (1972). New Pathways in Psychology: Maslow and the Post-Freudian Revolution. Victor Gollancz Ltd.
  In this book, Wilson explores Maslow's ideas and their significance, placing them in context. Wilson discusses his own related concepts, including the feelings of insignificance or the "unheroic hypothesis" prevalent in modern society, which he saw as a barrier to the kind of self-actualization Maslow championed. It offers insight into the societal context that might exacerbate the individual fear of greatness.