![\"nicole-green-kuG7ivPVXNI-unsplash\"](\"http:\/\/theaposition.com\/robertfagan\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2024\/10\/nicole-green-kuG7ivPVXNI-unsplash.jpeg\")
<\/h3>\n<\/h3>\n(Photo courtesy of Nicole Green)<\/p>\n
We\u2019ve all heard the hype about \u201creaching your potential.\u201d We\u2019re told to aim higher, dream bigger, and strive for our \u201cmaximum capacity.\u201d But what if I told you that all this obsession with potential might actually be holding you back? In coaching many athletes and performers, many have been labeled with “potential.” No matter how promising their potential, it’s something that I have them drop and focus elsewhere.<\/p>\n
Think about it: potential is this glittering, mystical concept that\u2019s always just a little bit out of reach<\/em>. It whispers promises of greatness, dangling a carrot of future success that we can never quite grasp. When we focus too much on what we could<\/em> be, it\u2019s easy to overlook who we are<\/em> right now and the progress we\u2019re already making.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re constantly measuring yourself against the ideal version of what you should<\/em> be, guess what? You\u2019re setting yourself up for a perpetual feeling of \u201cnot there yet.\u201d You\u2019re always chasing, always striving, and always a few steps short of feeling fulfilled. It’s like running a marathon where the finish line keeps moving farther and farther away.<\/p>\n Sound exhausting? That\u2019s because it is.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s the deal: focusing on potential can make you more obsessed with what\u2019s missing<\/em> instead of what\u2019s already working. You end up nitpicking your weaknesses, second-guessing your decisions, and feeling like you\u2019re playing a game of endless catch-up. The result? Paralysis, burnout, and a sneaky sense of inadequacy, even when you\u2019re making real strides forward.<\/p>\n It\u2019s time to flip the script. Instead of chasing some elusive idea of your \u201cpotential,\u201d why not focus on the power of what you can do today<\/em>? What if you stopped measuring yourself by where you might<\/em> end up, and started embracing what you\u2019re already doing right now? Measure yourself against yesterday and not tomorrow.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s why this shift is game-changing: focusing on the present<\/em> rather than the potential<\/em> puts you in control. It grounds you in what\u2019s tangible and actionable. When you focus on the process<\/em> rather than an idealized outcome, you\u2019re less likely to get discouraged by setbacks because you\u2019re not expecting perfection right out of the gate.<\/p>\n Take, for example, Stephen King<\/strong> before he became a household name. He didn\u2019t become a bestselling author by sitting around, pondering whether he\u2019d reach his full \u201cpotential\u201d as a writer. In fact, his early years were riddled with rejections. His first novel, Carrie<\/em>, was initially thrown in the trash\u2014by King himself\u2014after he felt defeated by his lack of success. It was his wife, Tabitha, who pulled it out and convinced him to keep going. King didn\u2019t achieve greatness by obsessing over what could<\/em> happen; he simply committed to doing the work<\/em>, one page at a time, every single day.<\/p>\n The result? A career that has produced over 60 novels, hundreds of short stories, and a legacy that has impacted countless readers around the world. King\u2019s success wasn\u2019t born from chasing his potential\u2014it came from focusing on what he could control in the present moment: putting in the time, the effort, and the passion into each word.<\/p>\n The same goes for us. When we let go of potential as the measuring stick, we free ourselves from the burden of unrealistic expectations. We start showing up for the moment, building small wins that eventually lead to bigger ones. We stop worrying about whether we\u2019re \u201cgood enough\u201d and start asking, \u201cWhat can I improve right now?\u201d<\/p>\n Letting go of potential means letting go of the chase. It means shifting your focus to making real progress<\/em> instead of keeping your eyes glued to a distant, glittering horizon. And guess what? That\u2019s where the real magic happens. Because success doesn\u2019t come from living in the land of \u201ccould be.\u201d It comes from the small, consistent actions you take today.<\/p>\n So, stop staring at your potential like it\u2019s some grand prize waiting in the distance. Look at what\u2019s in front of you. Lean into the here and now<\/em>. Do the work, take the steps, and let success unfold\u2014right where you are.<\/p>\n Chasing potential? That\u2019s old news. Creating value in the present? That\u2019s where real success lives.<\/p>\n Stop running, start being<\/em>\u2014and see just how powerful you already are.<\/p>\n Bob Fagan has just published\u00a0“The Little Book of Questions That Matter — A Lifetime Companion For Transforming Your Life.”\u00a0It is available on Amazon.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"