Why mediocrity?

Question. Why do we settle for mediocrity and complacency? Why is it so much easier to just be like everybody else, accomplish the same as everyone else? I watched some people today, thinking about how they could be and do so much more if they would just push themselves. If they would get past the laziness and realize they could do something great far above this tiny town. I'm not excluding myself from this, by the way. There's so much I could do but I don't. Won't make myself. It's just a shame that we don't live to our potential.
That's not to say that there's anything wrong with staying here and everything. I fully plan on coming back. It's just that I wish people would see how much than could do. How much God really has given them.
I guess a large part of this post is me reminding myself how much I can do. I'm trying to discern God's will about college because I'm a control freak and I want my plan now. I'm afraid that I won't make myself leave for college like I think I should. I'm afraid I'll be too afraid. Lol. I hate fear. Fear to take a chance. Fear to be more. Fear to take a leap of faith. Fear to trust Him. I hate that it controls so much of our lives and our decisions.