A Practical Approach To Finding Your True Potential

The four quadrants of potential

Tony Robbins, an American author, coach, and speaker, says,

“If you’re not growing, you’re dying.”

He is known for his commercials, seminars, and self-help books, including Unlimited Power and Awaken the Giant Within.

According to Robbins, you don’t have to make massive daily changes to grow.

Those with a growth mindset believe they can improve their skills and knowledge at any stage.

They are not afraid to push themselves to acquire new skills and abilities and to develop further.

It’s more about being mentally strong and looking forward to new challenges.

Tony goes on saying,

“We can change our lives. We can do, have, and be exactly what we want.”

But how do you build growth into your life?

Tony’s first step is to feed your mind with good books, podcasts, or practices.

Growth can mean taking a chance, taking a risk, or putting yourself in a situation that may not suit you.

It can also mean challenging yourself and trying new ways to be a better version of yourself.

If you are an entrepreneur, it may be about finding new strategies or tactics to grow your business or investments.

You might push yourself not to settle for the known but to strive for the unknown.

We only feel fulfilled when we improve ourselves or our lives somehow.

Everything in life calls us to grow.

When we stop growing, we feel pain, fear, and anxiety.

Discovering potential

We all know how important it is to live our purpose, but not everyone can figure it out.

Those who have cracked the code often confuse purpose with a short-term goal.

Most of us will overspend our time and energy overcoming the challenges we face personally or professionally.

That’s where many of us get stuck and lost in a sea of possibilities.

We have a hunger for power, status, and material success.

Even if we achieve these things, we will feel emptiness at the end of the day.

Deep in your heart, you know there is more to life than you see outside.

Some unique purpose that you are yet to discover.

I understand this mysterious feeling.

I’ve spent over 10 years figuring out what side hustle works for me.

I’ve tried different ways to make money online over the last few years, from solving captchas to blogging, ClickBanking, YT channels, launching SaaS products, etc.

In that time, I’ve had small successes and some failures.

I feel blessed by the Almighty for giving me the strength and courage to open the next mystery box.

Yesterday, I wrapped up reading the book “Think Like a Monk” by Jay Shetty.

In one of the chapters, Jay talks about the “Quadrants of potential,” inspired by the ancient Japanese philosophy of IKIGAI.

IKIGAI (‘reason for being’) is a Japanese concept that describes it as a motivating force, something, or someone that gives a person a purpose or reason for living.

Typically, it can refer to something that brings joy or fulfillment.

This picture has made all the difference in my life.

It has enabled me to figure out where I stand today and where I want to go.

I had already bought the book “The IKIGAI Journey” when I bought “Think Like a Monk.”

At that time, I did not realize that reading “Think Like a Monk” would eventually lead me to read “IKIGAI.”

In his book Think Like a Monk, Jay laid a practical roadmap to help us discover our true potential and purpose.

Decoding the quadrants

Jay’s Quadrants of Potential, inspired by the Japanese concept of IKIGAI, breaks down our daily activities into four distinct areas.

Each quadrant holds a unique key to uncovering your purpose.

These quadrants point you toward different aspects of your life’s purpose.

Exploring each quadrant offers practical means to better understand your potential and purpose.

1. Skill but no passion

Here, you’ll find tasks you’re particularly good at but perhaps don’t love.

These tasks are mostly related to our current jobs, which we have chosen for various reasons.

For instance, societal expectations, parental desires, or financial stability, e.g., earn a living and pay your bills.

Even if others recognize your talent in these areas, you should consider whether they fill you up.

2. Skill and passion

This second quadrant is about what you love and are particularly good at.

Much has already been said about the search for passion.

I also discussed how passion and dharma should be aligned in this post.

Take a moment to think about what you love and are good at.

Whether you have money or a reward in mind, just do something that gives you pleasure every day.

If you need help figuring out your passions, you can ask friends, family, or colleagues for feedback.

They often see qualities in us that we overlook.

It’s important to recognize that your skills go beyond your job title.

3. No skill and no passion

In the third quadrant, you face daily tasks that neither give you pleasure nor match your abilities.

These are the mundane, energy-sapping tasks that clutter your life.

Writing them down may seem redundant, but it’s crucial to understand how much time and energy they consume.

Chores like laundry, cleaning the kitchen, decluttering the bedroom, etc., require no special skills, and not most of us are passionate about doing them.

4. No skill but passion

Finally, the fourth quadrant holds what you love but haven’t fully mastered yet.

What do you love but haven’t yet mastered?

These interests spark your curiosity and enthusiasm, even if you need to feel like an expert.

You get excited when you read an article or watch a documentary about something you really want to experience.

Think back to your childhood and recollect your interests before societal pressures take hold of the situation.

Shifting the focus

If you look at all the quadrants, you must realize that “quadrant two” is the area you should aim for.

It is the place where your goals, your passion, and your skills intersect.

We spend most of our time in quadrants one and three.

But how can you spend more time on your passion and potential?

Finding our true passion and purpose does not happen overnight.

It requires investing time, energy, and sometimes money.

You may want to start by signing up for that online course or class you have been waiting for.

If you must buy a tool or equipment to get into something you’re passionate about, do it.

Having a role model who has already lived your dream also helps you visualize the life you want to lead.

Learning from their experiences, successes, and even failures can guide you on your path.

In the beginning, you should not overburden yourself with glorious plans.

The best way to get started is to set SMART goals.

Divide your goals into manageable tasks with clear deadlines.

This system minimizes the fear of failure and drives you forward.

Keep your current situation in mind and gradually incorporate the elements of your passion.

You may not be able to make a big change change overnight.

But you can invest some aspects of your life with the energy of your true calling.

Find meaning and purpose in your daily tasks by understanding how they can serve you in the future.

Final thoughts

Embrace your passions, invest in them, and look for ways to incorporate them into your daily life.

So take a step back, think about these quadrants, and start living a life that aligns with your heart and soul.

Jump out of bed every morning and look forward to pursuing your goals.

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