Jonah complex
![Jonah escapes from the belly of the great fish[4][5] that has held him captive.](/Images/godic/202501/21/Pieter_Lastman_(1583-1633)_-_Jonas_en_de_walvis_(1621)_-_Düsseldorf_Museum_Kunstpalast_15-08-2012_15-01-083622.JPG")
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. Just as the fear of achieving a personal worst can motivate personal growth, the fear of achieving a personal best can also hinder achievement.