Potential

 Happy Friday, Friends!

I hope and trust this post finds you all having a great day as a glorious new day begins to dawn in my Sweet Home Alabama! This is going to be a special one...I am determined to empty it of its potential! 😊

Potential is defined as, “latent qualities or abilities that may be developed and lead to future success or usefulness.” There are two really key points in the definition:

The first is the word latent. It is defined as “existing by not yet developed or manifest; hidden or concealed.” And the second is directly related to it – “may be.” The undeveloped, hidden, concealed qualities or abilities that lead to future success or usefulness may be developed but they aren’t yet. And who determines if they will or not? Well Friends, that would be you and me! 😊

Now, before diving into this a little bit deeper, and encouraging all of us to reach to fulfill our potential, I have to share a few excerpts from the book I am currently reading titled, Mindset: How We Can Learn to Fulfill Our Potential by Carol S. Dweck, Ph.D. I am not yet through two chapters, and I have already learned so much. As one who believes his life purpose is to encourage, empower, and equip others to become the best they are capable of becoming, I have always wondered why some people will push themselves to try new things, to always give their best effort, and others seem aloof and will not even get in the game. Dr. Dweck’s great work and research has opened my eyes. Here are just a few excerpts:

“For thirty years, my research has shown that the view you adopt of yourself profoundly affects the way you lead your life.”

“Believing that your qualities are carved in stone – the fixed mindset – creates an urgency to prove yourself over and over.”

“This growth mindset is based on the belief that your basic qualities are things you can cultivate through your efforts, your strategies, and help from others.”

“Do people with this mindset believe that anyone can be anything, that anyone with proper motivation or education can become Einstein or Beethoven? No, but they believe that a person’s true potential is unknown (and unknowable); that it’s impossible to foresee what can be accomplished with years of passion, toil, and training.”

“The passion for stretching yourself and sticking to it, even (or especially) when it’s not going well, is the hallmark of the growth mindset. This is the mindset that allows people to thrive during some of the most challenging times in their lives.”

All of that to say I want to acknowledge on the front end that I understand some people have a fixed mindset – the belief that they are who they are, that they cannot learn, grow, and become more – while others have a growth mindset – a belief that they can learn, grow, and become more. With this, I understand that which one you are will determine how you receive this message.

Unfulfilled potential, in my opinion, is a tragedy. As a former college football coach of 16 years, I saw so many people on both sides of this coin; young men with amazing potential who refused to do the things they needed to do to become all they were capable of becoming while others, with far less abilities, drove themselves relentlessly to find the limits of what they were capable of becoming. It is interesting, as I reflect, that those who pushed themselves, had a great peace in their countenance and disposition. Maybe the great John Wooden was on to something we he defined success as, “peace of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best you are capable of becoming.”

So, why will some strive to fulfill their potential while others will not? I believe Dr. Dweck has given us some of the answers. And, for those with the fixed mindset, I do not know what to tell you…I have not gotten that far in the book yet! 😊 With this I simply want to tell you, I BELIEVE IN YOU! The other reason I have observed is we get caught up in comparing ourselves to others.

I am currently reading a Bible Study titled, You’re Not the Boss of Me: A seven-day reading plan on handling emotions. It was produced by Northpoint Community Church. I want to share a couple of excerpts from this morning’s reading.

“There’s no point in striving to compete with what other people are doing. You’ll never experience God’s purpose for your life if you’re distracted by God’s purpose for someone else’s.” – Andy Stanley

“You cannot compete or compare your way to peace. You cannot win by chasing the wind. God has given you a race to run, and He’s given you a lane to run in. Stay there – and thrive there. And change somebody’s world from there, because envy is extraordinarily self-centered. From the lane God has called you to run in, you can do more for other people, because you will be less concerned about comparing yourself to them.” – Andy Stanley

And this has nothing to do with this Happy Friday however it has everything to do with What Will Your Influence Be…? It is from the same Bible Study a couple of days ago:

“Every day, the people closest to you are experiencing the overflow of your heart.” – Andy Stanley

Challenges and inspires me! How about you?! O.K., back on point…😊

Whoever you are and wherever you are this morning, I simply want to encourage you to pursue your potential in all aspects of your life. You have qualities and abilities, they are undeveloped, hidden, and they may be developed, leading to success and usefulness. It is up to you!

I want to close by sharing a few quotes about potential.

“Potential is a priceless treasure, like gold. All of us have gold hidden within, but we have to dig to get it out.” – Joyce Meyer 

“There is no man living who isn’t capable of doing more than he thinks he can do.” – Henry Ford 

“Potential means nothing if you don’t do anything with it.” – Anonymous 

“Don’t squander your potential living a life that amounts to far less than the one you are capable of living.” – Zero Dean

“The big challenge is to become all that you have the possibility of becoming.” – Jim Rohn

“The tragedy of life is what dies inside a man while he lives.” – Albert Schweitzer

“Success is knowing your purpose in life, growing to reach your maximum potential, and sowing seeds that benefit others.” – John Maxwell

Please don’t hesitate to contact me if there is ever anything I can do for you or your family. I will always help you any way I can. You can reach me at kevin@whatwillyourinfluencebe.com.

Have a great day, a wonderful weekend, please cherish your precious families, and please stay well!

Kev