The problem with fulfilling your potential

[coLLege kid07]

While some may say there is no problem with fulfilling your potential. I believe there is.

The fact of the matter is one day you will not live up to this potential. It happens to everyone; Me, Steve Pavlina, your brother, your sister everyone.

Here's some examples. I recall reading that when Steve was in his early/late (?) 20's he was completely bankrupt. He had absolutely no money and lived on the streets for awhile (correct me if I'm wrong). Obviously living on the streets and having no money wasn't fulfilling his potential. You could argue it was because of the decisions he made and his reckless abandon attitude. I would say your right but the fact of the matter is Steve didn't purposely do it himself it just happened.

When I was in the 10th grade in high school I had some aspirations of becoming a very successful track athlete. My sophomore year I ran a 52 second 400m and 2:02 800m (which not to boast are very good). Consequently I demanded this pressure from myself day in and day out. I expected myself to perform this well and or better every single day. You can see how this thinking ended up in a downward spiral. It robs you of not doing your best, and you thus expect the best 24/7. Consequently I've learned that you're robbing yourself of the greatest thing that can ever happen to you.

Lastly countless other people I'm sure have tons of stories just like this. Feel free to share if you wish...but I just felt the need to type this out.

Thanks for listening.

[lasti]

Originally Posted by coLLege kid07

When I was in the 10th grade in high school I had some aspirations of becoming a very successful track athlete. My sophomore year I ran a 52 second 400m and 2:02 800m (which not to boast are very good). Consequently I demanded this pressure from myself day in and day out. I expected myself to perform this well and or better every single day. You can see how this thinking ended up in a downward spiral. It robs you of not doing your best, and you thus expect the best 24/7. Consequently I've learned that you're robbing yourself of the greatest thing that can ever happen to you.

Doing your best doesn't mean getting the best results. Sometimes the best you can do is relax a while and have fun.

[SimonaRich]

Originally Posted by lasti

Doing your best doesn't mean getting the best results. Sometimes the best you can do is relax a while and have fun.

That's the best you can do in the first place because when you just relax and have fun you allow the manifestations of your desires to come into your reality.

[Eric Roosevelt]

This is why I don't like to think in terms of potential when it comes to generating results. Sure, it can be nice (and even necessary) to remind yourself that you're capable of achieving something better than what you're achieving right now. That can give us inspiration. However, even more interesting than contemplating what we could do, is to start taking action and experience the results IRL. Remember that your velocity is almost as important as your position at any given time. Make sure you're moving in the right direction (i.e. taking what you believe are the correct actions to achieve your goal), and try not to pay too much attention to the fact that you're not achieving your maximum potential 100% of the time. I think that's almost impossible, anyway.

[Kindred]

Originally Posted by coLLege kid07

When I was in the 10th grade in high school I had some aspirations of becoming a very successful track athlete. My sophomore year I ran a 52 second 400m and 2:02 800m (which not to boast are very good). Consequently I demanded this pressure from myself day in and day out. I expected myself to perform this well and or better every single day. You can see how this thinking ended up in a downward spiral.

Your story is definitely relatable; I use to do this a lot with my art. Every time a sketch came out less than expected, I'd just scrap the drawing. This was extremely demotivating for me, and I usually ended up not drawing for weeks.

However, I started thinking of it like this: It's sort of like hiking up a mountain and refusing to go down any dip to get to the top, and then sitting and pouting that you can't go higher from there. Look at your potential as the top of the mountain, what you want to become, instead of just the next highest point. You are fulfilling your potential by hiking the mountain.

[Holistic Star]

Even when Steve was bankrupt he was fulfilling his potential.

If he hadn't have had that experience, I doubt he would be as successful as he is today. He wouldn't have had to have dug deep inside and called on every single inner resource to build himself back up. He took risks to get to where he was, and he took risks to get out of it. I can't remember the blog title, but there one where he is completely broke and he looks at the sea and thinks 'I can enjoy this for free' is totally inspiring.

Indeed, I think one of the things that holds me back is that I've always played it safe because I've been too scared to take risks. This is something I'm working on (the taking risks, not deliberatly becoming bankrupt - ).

Instead of viewing life experiences as either negative or positive, it really helps to bring them all into balanced thinking. In every negative situation there will be something positive come out of it. In fact all of the 'negative' things I have experienced have made me much stronger and capable. If you think back to anything negative you have experienced you will be able to find something good in it, or that came out of it. It can't not be there. (sorry for the double negative there but even that makes a positive statement!)

In every positive situation there will be a hint of something negative e.g. if things are too easy you don't learn anything or have to take responsibility. You never have to draw deep on your resources and GROW. So what you really want is a balance and to ultimately see the balance in every experience and be grateful for what ever comes your way! Because it is what it is. It's all wonderful experience that helps us grow.

[Dot]

Originally Posted by coLLege kid07

Obviously living on the streets and having no money wasn't fulfilling his potential. You could argue it was because of the decisions he made and his reckless abandon attitude. I would say your right but the fact of the matter is Steve didn't purposely do it himself it just happened.

Very often people have to go through the fire to come out the other side. Steve actually had the balls to go through it. Most people don't. Most people spend their lives running from difficult situations - and they staying happily asleep and numb in the status quo.

People who are tapped into a deeper level will welcome adversity and challenges.

There are countless stories of highly successful people who started out to achieve their dreams, and had to go through some pretty lean times - while still holding to their goal - before things started to turn around.

[AfteraDream]

Well, I'm starting to think that failing is a part of fulfilling your potential. Because when you fall, you have to stand up again and keep doing what you are doing. In this case the real potential shows up and actually grows

[Dot]

Originally Posted by AfteraDream

Well, I'm starting to think that failing is a part of fulfilling your potential. Because when you fall, you have to stand up again and keep doing what you are doing. In this case the real potential shows up and actually grows

Absolutely! Most people never dare step out for fear of falling. You know what? When you step out to really live fully - you're gonna fall on your ass at some point, or maybe at several points. Simple as that.

Living fully is living life without a net. Living fully is taking risks. Living fully is not being afraid to fail. Living fully is not being afraid to fall.

Failure is part of the process. Falling is part of the process.

Living fully is a process not a goal. Living fully can not be measured, it can only be experienced.

Have a look at some great quotes on risk... Risk Quotes | Risk Quotations | Risk Sayings | Wisdom Quotes

[AfteraDream]

Originally Posted by Dot

Absolutely! Most people never dare step out for fear of falling. You know what? When you step out to really live fully - you're gonna fall on your ass at some point, or maybe at several points. Simple as that.

Living fully is living life without a net. Living fully is taking risks. Living fully is not being afraid to fail. Living fully is not being afraid to fall.

Failure is part of the process. Falling is part of the process.

Living fully is a process not a goal. Living fully can not be measured, it can only be experienced.

Have a look at some great quotes on risk... Risk Quotes | Risk Quotations | Risk Sayings | Wisdom Quotes

TRUE!

[Manomanman]

Originally Posted by coLLege kid07

While some may say there is no problem with fulfilling your potential. I believe there is.

The fact of the matter is one day you will not live up to this potential. It happens to everyone; Me, Steve Pavlina, your brother, your sister everyone.

Steve cuts that line of thinking off here:

Self-Acceptance vs. Personal Growth

[coLLege kid07]

Originally Posted by AfteraDream

Well, I'm starting to think that failing is a part of fulfilling your potential. Because when you fall, you have to stand up again and keep doing what you are doing. In this case the real potential shows up and actually grows

Hehe I agree with both you and Holistic Star. It seems like somehow, someway you are meant to have these kinds of experiences. Somewhat like fate I guess. In the end I find myself way better off than I was before.

As for the other responses I think I agree with them too. I think were I was coming from is the ideal best (that we have in our minds) will not always come to be. I know that for track I always had a time lodged in my brain I knew I could run (49 second 400m =). However I never got there...mostly because of other things but I think the point is still made.

[GHI]

Originally Posted by coLLege kid07

As for the other responses I think I agree with them too. I think were I was coming from is the ideal best (that we have in our minds) will not always come to be. I know that for track I always had a time lodged in my brain I knew I could run (49 second 400m =). However I never got there...mostly because of other things but I think the point is still made.

Well, that depends - how badly do you want to see these results? A vague wish to "fulfill my potential in everything" is hardly a good enough motivation.

Let me put it this way:

If someone gave you a billion dollar prize for running a sub-49 lap, you would do it. You would not have let all those "other things" do distract you.

In real life, you simply didn't have a good enough reason to make this kind of effort. And there's nothing wrong with that. There is no commandment that says "thy shall run a sub-49 lap"... You should not feel forced, in any way, to do something you don't want to do.