Are you reaching your full potential?

Not according to my mother. However, I try to live strong, with grace. Sappy as that sounds, it’s a good thing.

Absolutely.

Probably not 100% right now because of the limitations of my current situation, but I’m hoping that’ll change in 2011. The only area I really feel like I’m failing in is my career and that’s because I feel like I could be doing more than I am.

No. I wish that I was.

Nope…after the performance in my exams I definitely need to do more work.

Nope. Maybe someday.

No, but I don’t really want to. I always think of “your full potential” as having to do more with your job and family and things that show you’re successful by other people’s standards, on paper. I’d rather just be happy and at peace than unhappy but seemingly successful.

I feel about the same as @papayalily. I do feel like the “potential” thing tends to relate to success. Maybe that’s a misperception, I’m not sure. But “success” is not very important to me. I’m all for peace and happiness though. Well said, @papayalily.

‘munch’ ‘chomp’ ‘crunch’....... no… no i am not. I am in an active band and still not at full potential… kind of sad….

Probably not. But I’m happy with what I’m doing and what bearing it’ll have on my future, so what’s wrong with that?

It’s a piece of cake for be because I have so little potential. I am attempting to enhance my potential through an Extenze regimen.

Purpose and potential change, so there is always a new purpose or potential to explore.

It’s a lifelong progression.

Look at Grandam Moses, she started painting in her 80’s and reached her ‘potential’ in her 90’s.

Go with the flow and let things unfold naturally. :-)

Accepting who and where you are in the moment is tantamount to any future progress.

I’m not reaching my full anything, least of which being my potential.

I don’t know.

Nope, maybe in the future.

No – but give me another 100 years in therapy and I just might.

There is no way to know. Maybe we are all meeting our full potential and it is ego that makes us believe we could be better.

If I am, good. If not, oh, well.

@psychocandy Maybe a better question is “Are you as happy with yourself as you could be?”

I like to think that I am. I most certainly try!

I like to think that I’m not; gives me something to strive for and further better myself.

No.. It is a work in progress though, It will probably take me the rest of my life to get there, but I’ll keep on truckin, all the way!

@psychocandy

Aaah, wise words grasshopper! :-)

Yep, what is, is, and therefore ‘it’ IS all perfect.
It cannot be any other way, or one is fighting ‘reality.’

We are all exactly where we are supposed to be for our varying levels of development.

‘Potential’ denotes needing time, somewhere in the future to fully ‘become.’

There is no future, only the present moment.

‘Future’ is a mind made concept that does not exist outside of the mind.

Every stage of growth is necessary for the tree to bear fruit. ;-)

I’m not at this time and look forward to the near future when I will be again.

Full potential? How can you know what that is? Who determines what it is? Is there some potential bank in the sky that sells potentials futures? Kind of like betting on human souls?

Now, if you asked me if I was meeting my goals, or if I thought there was more I could do in order to accomplish such-and-such, I could make an assessment. But potential? It’s as amorphous as “the cloud.”

The path is the destination. My potential has been cut too many times to remember.

No….

This is one of the big reasons I get so depressed. I’m full of wasted talents, skills, and abilities. I can’t get my shit together, or get motivated, enough to do anything about it.

@MissAnthrope Hey! Join my club. I’ve decided that I don’t give a crap about wasted potential, except when I’m depressed. When I’m healthy, I’m healthy mentally as well as mentally healthy, if you know what I mean. Like, when I am mentally healthy, I am comfortable with my attitude towards life.

The idea of potential is really bad for me. Really, really bad. When I fall into it’s grip, you can be sure that thinking of suicide is not far away. So you know what I say?

Fuck potential.

Fuck potential.

I could say more, but then I’d get too graphic, but let’s just say that this idea deserves to be tortured before it is killed in an extremely slow manner.

I am what I am, and I do what I do, and who’s business is it other than mine? I mean, if you want to tell me I’m not doing what I should be doing, then fuck you. It’s my life, not yours. Tell me what you want. I’ll take it into consideration. But you have no business telling me what I should do. Not even my parents have that right.

You, @MissAnthrope, are fine the way you are, doing what you do, making the choices you make. You don’t owe anyone anything else. It’s up to you to decide what to give and when to give it. They are your talents and skills and abilities, and you can do what you want with them. You can use them as you please. You don’t owe nobody nuthin!

Not even close.

Basically I’m biding my time until I reach the point where I don’t have to trade time for income. When I cross that threshold, then I can begin to realize my full potential.

Without question, no. Neither of us are.

@wundayatta – Thanks.. that was what I needed to hear today. :)

@wundayatta That was full of win.

Not really, but I’m happy every day, and that’s an achievement most people envy.

When I’m truly living:( experiencing the joy of being present in the moment ) is when I feel most alive. The rest is just icing on the cake for me.

@stardust @stardust
Poetic and true, namaste!

Depends who you ask.

My mom would say no, I’m too “compassionate” to be in the military and would be better off as a small town doctor.

My dad would also probably say no, but then he never gave a damn and always said I’d never be able to do it.

My former best friend would say yes, but then again he never fully understood my goals

My grandparents all around would say yes, but all they want is bragging rights which I apparently provide them with.

etc.

Myself? Frankly I’m just going to live and do what I feel is worthwhile until I die.