Unlocking Your Potential
Why is it that our potential can seem so elusive at times?
When we want to achieve something better, why are we so often confronted by the gap between current reality and what we’re aspiring for?
This can be true in our relationships, financial status, health, fitness level, career or business… in fact any area in which we could want to see change.
How do we bridge this gap, particularly if we’re not starting with a clean slate?
What if we have momentum in the complete opposite direction of where we want to go, what then?
Following are a few thoughts on how to unlock your potential, no matter what the starting point…
Your potential is ahead of you
If you’re not where you currently want to be, it really doesn’t matter how you got to where you are.
Whether you put yourself there through your own decisions, you got blindsided by some circumstances along the way, or anything else… it doesn’t really matter.
For you to be all that you can be, you first need to recognise that your potential is ahead of you. The best is yet to come, and you need to make a decision to start closing the gap.
In an early job I had, a circumstance happened that ruled out the direction I wanted to go. In doing so, it also gave me the opportunity to lodge a compensation claim. The only claim I ended up taking though, was the decision to move forward and let go. The particular situation wasn’t really anyone’s fault, no one had been malicious and I had potential that required that I choose to move forward. Getting caught up in a long compensation procedure, could’ve easily distracted me from that. There are times where compensation is appropriate, but in this case, it was more important to move forward. In hindsight, it was one of the best decisions I ever made.
Ever since, it’s been a challenge to review the excuses for not doing something, occasionally needing to realign my focus. Potential is always ahead… and you choose either to close the gap, or leave it untapped.
It’s your potential, so you need to be you
In a world where we’re constantly bombarded with comparisons, it’s all too easy to look at what others have and lose perspective of our own potential. Large corporations spend many millions of dollars, equating your lack of their product as something that is making you less than others who have purchased it.
There is no reward in reaching someone else’s potential. So why restrict yourself to comparisons with others?
Dare to like being you and discovering what you can do by daring to be authentic. You’ll likely be pleasantly surprised by how amazing you really are.
Get comfortable with being you… you’ve got great potential!
Gratitude helps open doors to potential
When we’re dissatisfied with where we’re at, it’s easy to forget what we have to be thankful for. However, a lack of genuine appreciation for what you already have is a guaranteed way to push away potential.
A deliberate practise of gratitude and praise will not only improve your perspective, but open opportunities that are otherwise impossible to realise.
When helping others, there is something incredibly motivating about assisting those who are genuinely appreciative… it just makes you want to do more than you otherwise would. The same works for you, when you choose to practise appreciation and gratitude.
True potential is never realised without contribution to others
There is a wonderful irony that the best way to achieve success for ourselves is to ensure that we also help others.
In many of our pursuits, much of what we seek can easily become isolating and unfulfilled if we lose sight of the need to contribute to the wellbeing of others.
In fact, if you’re unsure about what your potential even is, starting by helping others is a great way to find it.
Realising your potential takes faith
Doubt is an incredibly limiting force. Whilst doubt is always present to some degree, choosing to faith and focus, and creating an environment that feeds faith, is essential to realising your true potential.
From a personal perspective, believing that I was created on purpose, for a purpose and developing a faith journey to understand more about my Creator, has been a primary catalyst for realising potential in so many areas. It would be superficial for me to suggest otherwise.
There is an ever present risk in our endeavours, that we can do all the preparation, put in 90% of the work and be intimidated from taking things through to completion. Avoid losing the head game along the way to doubt… in the words of Jon Bon Jovi, “keep the faith”.
Definitely do the groundwork and exercise due diligence. But once you’ve picked your course, exercise faith and be aware of the sabotage that doubt causes, if given the opportunity to do so.
Embrace the opportunity to become more… not just have more
In looking at the various areas that we can aspire for more (work, health, relationships, finance), it is easy to fall into the trap of creating goals centred on material outcomes. However, as we aspire for these things, the real opportunity is for us to grow and develop who we are, not just what we have.
When looking in terms of our potential, what the unlocking of our potential develops in us, is what will give us the capacity to reach and sustain higher levels of achievement in all areas of our life.
Your potential is ready to be unlocked
The great news is, that no matter where you’re at, you have potential that is yet to be unlocked. The challenge for all of us, is what we do with the opportunities ahead… In taking the time to read articles like this, it’s quite likely you already recognise this and are making positive steps in the right direction.
If you found this article useful, why not share it with someone else who may like it… if you have something to add or think it could be improved, why not leave a comment below?
But most of all, enjoy the journey of unlocking your potential!
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