Enneagram and the Jonah Complex: Exploring the Link

The Jonah complex is a term coined by psychologist Abraham Maslow and used to explain how the suppression of healthy ambition can hinder self-actualization. Based on the Biblical story about the prophet Jonah and his attempt to avoid his fate, this concept sheds light on how fears stop us from accomplishing our dreams.

In this article, we’ll explain in detail what the Jonah complex is, which psychological mechanisms support it, and how the Enneagram test can help us identify and overcome it.

Let’s start!

What is the Jonah Complex?

The Jonah complex refers to the fear of success and failure and the self-sabotaging patterns that accompany it. It is based on the Biblical story of Jonah, who attempted to fail God and avoid the destiny God intended for him.

Namely, Jonah received a command from God to go to the land of Nineveh and tell all the inhabitants that they needed to improve and become better people, to repent of the bad things they were doing, and that God would forgive them when they obeyed his demands.

However, Jonah decided not to listen to God, believing that he knew better, and he didn’t think that the people of Nineveh could improve or deserved a second chance. Therefore, he didn’t want them to escape God’s punishment. Avoiding his destiny led him to many troubles.

Only when he fell into the sea and was swallowed by a whale did Jonah remember that all his troubles happened to him because he had not fulfilled the destiny chosen for him by God’s command.

So, the usual interpretation of this story sees Jonah as someone who refuses to take the risk and go after his God-given fate but decides to follow the more comfortable path.

Inspired by this story and recognizing similar patterns in everyday life, Maslow coined the term Jonah complex to describe people who tend to avoid taking risks and pursuing their goals out of both fear of success and fear of potential failure.

What Are the Psychological Mechanisms Behind the Jonah Complex?

The Jonah complex psychology is best explained by the psychologist Abraham Maslow. He noticed that in contemporary society, unwritten rules require us to appear modest and humble. Otherwise, society may punish us in some subtle or less subtle ways.

As a result, people choose to become humble, complacent, and even masochistic because they fear unspoken punishment for achieving success that makes them stand out from others.

To fit in and ensure belonging to the community, such individuals cripple themselves, thus avoiding pursuing the talents that are God-given to them. In other words, they evade the destiny they were made for, just like Jonah.

Some of the key signs of Jonah complex behavior and mindset are unrealistic modesty and humbleness, compliance, people-pleasing patterns, withdrawal, and self-isolation.

Fear of Failure vs. Fear of Success

On the one hand, people with the Jonah complex fear success because succeeding may propel others to abandon them in some way, and on the other, they fear failure because there’s no guarantee that they will succeed if they accept going after their talents.

These types of inner conflicts drive the Jonah complex, enhanced by self-doubt and lack of genuine support from important other people. Individuals who experience it often have a history of childhood trauma and struggle with the need to belong, often believing they have to sacrifice something to be accepted by others.

How Jonah Complex Shows Up in Daily Lives

The Jonah complex shows up daily in a range of ordinary, seemingly logical behaviors and decisions with a self-sabotaging function. Here are some typical patterns connected with the Jonah complex:

Imposter Syndrome and Self-Doubt

People with the Jonah complex often feel like they don’t deserve the talent that they have or that they are actually not as talented as others perceive them. They also feel unworthy of success, and even when their abilities and achievements are recognized, they feel like a ‘fraud.’

As a result, they may refuse to be promoted because they feel they don’t deserve the promotion for real despite their track record of success, attributing their achievements to lack rather than to their hard work or talent.

Self-Sabotage

The Jonah complex often causes people to self-sabotage through procrastination, decisions based on fear, avoidance of challenges, and other behaviors that hinder progress. One of the most common examples of the Jonah complex is a person who starts many projects at once, struggles to follow through, and does not finish any.

Mediocrity

Since they fear success just as much as failure, people with the Jonah complex develop a range of behavior patterns that keep them stagnating between these two possibilities.

As a result, they stay somewhere in the middle, glorifying mediocrity, never allowing themselves to stand out or completely fail. Mediocrity gives them a sense of belonging, stability, and security and becomes their comfort zone.

Jonah Complex and the Enneagram

Every Enneagram type can suffer from the Jonah complex, but each will express it differently. Enneagram test and theory describe each type’s weaknesses in detail, and based on their core fears, motivations, and personality traits, we can anticipate how each would experience the Jonah complex. Moreover, some types may be more prone to it than others.

Enneagram Types Prone to the Jonah Complex

As said, insecurity, self-doubt, and fear are the key triggers for the development of the Jonah complex, so the types most prone to it are those who experience these feelings the most. These include:

• Type 4. Fours struggle with feelings of inadequacy and often perceive themselves as inherently flawed in some way. On the one hand, they fear being ‘too ordinary’; on the other, they feel they are more memorable than others. Torn between these extremes, they often fail to recognize opportunities for success and instead choose to remain in the shadows.
• Type 6. Sixes are deeply anxious and terrified by the unpredictability of life. Their focus on security and the need to belong is so intense that they would rather fail in some way than risk losing connection with others. Success may seem too frightening, so they stay in their comfort zone even when some great achievement is within reach.
• Type 9. Similarly to Sixes, Nines also prioritize connection in their lives and would rather stay in their comfort zone than risk their relationships by achieving something remarkable. They also don’t want to overshadow others, as they believe others would abandon them if they did.

The types least prone to the Jonah complex would be Threes, Sevens, and Eights. Threes are very success-driven, and they would hardly fail to use the opportunity to do anything that makes them stand out and contributes to their image of being the best.

Sevens are naturally self-confident, relaxed, and unburdened by others’ expectations, so they focus on the joy in life, don’t run away from success, and don't suffer too much when they fail.

Meanwhile, Eights are the most self-confident Enneagram type and are not afraid to stand out and take charge. Moreover, they believe success belongs to them naturally.

Ones, Twos, and Fives are somewhere in the middle, and their inclination toward the Jonah complex may vary depending on the strength of their Enneagram wing. The concept of Enneagram wings explains how Enneagram subtypes are formed and how each type can have traits of one of their neighboring types. For example, One with an Enneagram 9 wing (1w9) will have many traits of Type Nine and, therefore, may be more prone to the Jonah complex than One with a Two wing (1w2), who has traits of Type Two.

How to Overcome Jonah Complex: 3 Proven Strategies

Jonah complex is basically a set of toxic beliefs that can be addressed and changed. So, here is a set of proven strategies that can help you overcome the Jonah complex and unlock your full potential:

#1. Foster Self-Awareness

Being self-aware and overcoming self-doubt means being aware of your shortcomings, talents, abilities, and strengths. Moreover, it refers to knowing yourself so well that you understand the root cause of your weaknesses and can use your strengths to protect yourself from being triggered by your fears.

In addition, you can use the Enneagram as a self-awareness development tool by exploring your personality type.

#2. Prioritize Genuine, Deep Connections

While many people may try to bring you down when you are at your best, those few who don’t are the ones you should focus on. Fitting in and pleasing others is a huge element of the Jonah complex. A natural antidote to the need to fit in is to connect with people with whom you can really bond, as they are the ones who will give you a healthy sense of belonging. So, instead of worrying about how society will treat you if you stand out, rely on the support of those who genuinely want the best for you.

#3. Let Go of Perfectionism

The fact that you can’t do something perfectly doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it at all. Moreover, perfection was never a real option; we are all flawed, and it’s not our flaws that define how successful we are. Consider mistakes as opportunities for growth, and don’t waste time dwelling on self-criticism.

Success is just around the corner, but perfection is nowhere near, so focus on the progress you’ve made, not on the inevitable imperfections.

Are You Living Up to Your True Potential?

Feeling stuck between your dreams and the necessities of everyday life? Take the Enneagram test and find out what prevents you from achieving your full potential and how you can overcome all obstacles!

Key Takeaways

The Jonas complex can affect anyone but can also be overcome with courage and conscious effort. As Henry Ford once put it, “Whether you think you can, or you think you can't—you're right” so don’t let any limiting belief prevent you from becoming the best version of yourself!

The value of the Enneagram lies in its power to support you on your journey of self-discovery and help you identify the limiting patterns, such as the Jonas complex, that hinder your growth. Moreover, using Enneagram as a coaching tool for overcoming the Jonas complex can be very effective.

Therefore, we encourage you to keep exploring the Enneagram test and your personality type and never stop believing in your dreams!

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