We are born with potential. During the early years of our childhood, we begin to explore and display our talents and interests. Parents, grandparents, teachers and friends see those talents. They begin to speak to us about our potential.
Having potential is a blessing and it is nice to have others recognize that we do. Their recognition can be motivating. Potential can be converted into accomplishment.
We can become frustrated if our potential goes unfulfilled. Obstacles get in the way. Some of these obstacles are unavoidable. For example, a world class athlete may experience a severe injury that ends the dream of becoming a star. A new dream may be required.
However, a much more common reason for failing to achieve our potential is own personal inaction. We get lazy. We fall behind in the development of our skills. Excuses begin to replace accomplishment. Soon we may quietly give up.
Those in our lives continue to remind us of our untapped potential. Their earlier recognition of our potential become reminders that we are falling behind and failing. They may say of us (or even to us) that we are “never going to amount to anything.” Don’t let them be right. At any point in life, it is never too late for accomplishment to replace disappointment.
In elementary school I used to get a lot of citizenship marks (remember those) that said I wasn’t working up to my potential. Way back then I decided that my potential was mine to define and not someone else’s. I have never been disappointed as I’ve achieved a lot and feel pretty damn good about it. (A little ego never hurt potential either.)
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Cannot help but agree with your comment. I do get concerned when a young person makes no choices about life objectives and just parties on until time is gone.
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