Free AI web copilot to create summaries, insights and extended knowledge, download it at here

Abstract

my potential was. A clear but impressively wrong idea.I would’ve never imagined that I could learn 2 languages, read 200 books and start a company in the 4 years that are between me and my past self.Potential is relative to what you know. What you know about yourself but also about the world. And let’s be honest, we don’t know anything. We’re learning every single day and the more we learn, the more we realize we don’t know anything.There is no such thing as potential as it evolves as quickly as our understanding of ourselves and the world evolves.Don’t fall into the trap of thinking you have finite potential. Because you are way more than that and can have more than you ever imagined.<h1 id="a7b5">Focus On The Journey</h1>Having an end goal in mind can be useful. You can visualize reaching it and it’s a way to find motivation in tough times. But it’s also very dangerous. Because once you reach this end goal, what is next? It’s not that easy to go from one goal to the other without anything linking them.The link is the process you have. If instead of focusing on the outcome you focus on how to get there, it will change the way you think about progress.The goal isn’t to learn one new language but to continuously learn about new cultures.The goal isn’t to save X amount of money, but a bit each month.Use the power of compounding interest in your favor. Life is a marathon, not a sprint. It’s better to always be running at a correct pace than beating yourself up at doing sprints every single day.Focusing on the journey also allows you to realize that nothing happens overnight. It takes a lot of time

Options

and effort over a long period. And that’s great because you can take a step back and find satisfaction in the daily struggles and successes.<h1 id="291e">Don’t Listen To The Critics</h1>Our society is goal-oriented. Processes are perceived as a weight to carry. And most of the time it’s true, especially in big corporations where heavy processes slow everyone down.But your life doesn’t have to be goal-oriented. You are the one choosing what matters to you. What you want to focus on and how you evaluate a good day.People will always try to force you into their way of thinking about success. They want you to care about the same thing they care about because it gives them validation that they are not wasting time on something useless.But you ultimately know they are. The person for whom every day is a struggle except the one where they receive their bonus is fundamentally sad and pitiful.The social pressure to do the same as your peers will always be there. Don’t listen to it though. Don’t let your life be influenced by things you don’t care about.The greatest risk in life isn’t to fail on something that matters, but to succeed on something that doesn’t.<h1 id="2421">Final Thoughts</h1>Life is so short. We have a limited amount of time on this planet. Once we realize this, it becomes easier to isolate the noise and focus on what matters.This journey can be beautiful. The best way to enjoy it is to focus on the flow of time, not on singular events. There is no destination, there is just you and who you want to become.Just focus on what matters to you, one day at a time, and you’ll feel fulfilled.</article></body>

You’ll Never Fulfill Your Potential

And that’s a good thing.

So many self-improvement articles, videos, and books talk about fulfilling our potential. I even wrote some articles about this subject. It sounds good and it sells well because we all aspire to be something more. To achieve more.

But today I want to look at another aspect of this. There is something I don’t like with the phrasing “fulfill our potential”.

When you think about it, it sounds like it’s the end of something. You fulfill your potential and then… there is nothing more?

Why should we believe in our potential being fixed and limited? That goes against the growth mindset idea, right?

That’s why you won’t and shouldn’t fulfill your potential. That would be stagnation. It would be the end of the journey.

And the self-improvement journey has no end.

It’s always about the process. Continuously improving yourself and reaching every time for something more.

Potential Is Relative

You likely have no idea what your potential even is. Life is chaotic and progresses in jumps. Every instant can change the course of what is to come.

My 18 years old self had a very clear idea of what my potential was. A clear but impressively wrong idea.

I would’ve never imagined that I could learn 2 languages, read 200 books and start a company in the 4 years that are between me and my past self.

Potential is relative to what you know. What you know about yourself but also about the world. And let’s be honest, we don’t know anything. We’re learning every single day and the more we learn, the more we realize we don’t know anything.

There is no such thing as potential as it evolves as quickly as our understanding of ourselves and the world evolves.

Don’t fall into the trap of thinking you have finite potential. Because you are way more than that and can have more than you ever imagined.

Focus On The Journey

Having an end goal in mind can be useful. You can visualize reaching it and it’s a way to find motivation in tough times. But it’s also very dangerous. Because once you reach this end goal, what is next? It’s not that easy to go from one goal to the other without anything linking them.

The link is the process you have. If instead of focusing on the outcome you focus on how to get there, it will change the way you think about progress.

The goal isn’t to learn one new language but to continuously learn about new cultures.

The goal isn’t to save X amount of money, but a bit each month.

Use the power of compounding interest in your favor. Life is a marathon, not a sprint. It’s better to always be running at a correct pace than beating yourself up at doing sprints every single day.

Focusing on the journey also allows you to realize that nothing happens overnight. It takes a lot of time and effort over a long period. And that’s great because you can take a step back and find satisfaction in the daily struggles and successes.

Don’t Listen To The Critics

Our society is goal-oriented. Processes are perceived as a weight to carry. And most of the time it’s true, especially in big corporations where heavy processes slow everyone down.

But your life doesn’t have to be goal-oriented. You are the one choosing what matters to you. What you want to focus on and how you evaluate a good day.

People will always try to force you into their way of thinking about success. They want you to care about the same thing they care about because it gives them validation that they are not wasting time on something useless.

But you ultimately know they are. The person for whom every day is a struggle except the one where they receive their bonus is fundamentally sad and pitiful.

The social pressure to do the same as your peers will always be there. Don’t listen to it though. Don’t let your life be influenced by things you don’t care about.

The greatest risk in life isn’t to fail on something that matters, but to succeed on something that doesn’t.

Final Thoughts

Life is so short. We have a limited amount of time on this planet. Once we realize this, it becomes easier to isolate the noise and focus on what matters.

This journey can be beautiful. The best way to enjoy it is to focus on the flow of time, not on singular events. There is no destination, there is just you and who you want to become.

Just focus on what matters to you, one day at a time, and you’ll feel fulfilled.