Are You Settling? Live Your Potential!
Are you living your potential or drowning in mediocrity? The dictionary defines potential as “a latent excellence or ability that may or may not be developed”. Mediocrity on the other hand is merely ordinary; neither good nor bad; barely adequate.
Do you go to work because you need the paycheck while eagerly anticipating the weekend? Does the weekend entail a frenzy of partying or a zombie-like state in front of the television? Could this be because you need to de-stress and not think about your life? If these questions are making you feel a tad bit uneasy, you could be settling for a life of mediocrity.
The same applies to your relationships. If you’re single and hiding in your home, your great love cannot find you. If you’re in an unhappy relationship and are sticking around because you don’t believe you can actually be in a passionate, loving, supportive relationship; you are settling!
If you’re not buzzing with health and vitality; you’re settling!
So how do we escape this life of mediocrity and step into our potential? Start with little things but be consistent. Make a decision to BE excellent and to BE enthusiastic. Let’s say you have to wash a pile of dishes. You can either treat it like a chore you hate doing OR you can be enthusiastic and grateful that you have a home, food and dishes to put it in.
You can either do the least you can get away with in your job OR you can enthusiastically dive into every task, appreciating the fact that you have a job that supports you. You have an income that allows you to live in a house rather than a park bench. Over the next few weeks, you will be noticed as being a cut above the rest. When opportunities for advancement comes along, you’ll be at the front of the line. If you have to be at work for 40 hours a week; you might as well enjoy it. Who knows how soon you will outgrow your current position and dive into something a whole lot better that suits your new attitude of enthusiasm and excellence.
The saddest relationships are the ones where people simple tolerate each other. There’s no appreciation or acknowledgement of each other. You stay together because it’s easier than upsetting the apple cart. If you’re going to stay in a relationship, it’s worth a little time and energy to make it a great relationship. Just for a while, suspend all expectations that your partner must change for you to be happy. For the next few weeks, genuinely complement them on one thing each day. Thank them for bringing in an income; cooking a meal; taking the kids to school; being a companion; making you laugh; remembering your birthday. The more you acknowledge the good in someone, the more appreciated they feel and the more they give to you. It only takes one person to turn a relationship around and you have the power to do it.
Living in your potential is about constant progress. When you can see yourself as more than you are right now and begin making these little, but consistent changes; before you know it your life will look miraculously different. You will fall in love with life! You will bound out of bed and embrace each day, loving who you are and loving what you’ve created.
