Frustrated with undiscovered potential…
Comments(4) Once in a while I come across an individual who really frustrates me…it somehow affects my entire day. I’ve been trying to figure out why lately.
Our minds limit what we can become in so many ways. So when I come across someone who has nearly a reason for every shortcoming in their life, whether it’s why they MUST use the eliptical versus the treadmill, or why they cannot cook for themselves…or why their dreams are no longer their dreams anymore…I feel like pulling my hair out. I’ll work to show them “a way” around an obstacle they present…and they very adeptly find a reason why it won’t work.
The way our minds work to justify why we cannot to things is amazing.
We construct these realities in our minds, that place artificial limits on what we can do with our lives, and they all make total sense…if they didn’t we’d be terribly depressed I think. I constantly remind myself of this, because it’s something we all do, every day.
It is when I come across a person that has lied to themselves so many times, that their minds are paralyzed by their own reality…their own limitations…and I cannot see such a person ever reaching their full potential in life. It’s depressing.
So…you can imagine how frustrating it can be to see the incredible potential in someone to achieving anything they want in life, but to know he or she will probably never see it in their lifetime.
While I believe we should always be thankful for our own good fortune in life, try not to settle too much in your life, because there is no reason you have to. There is always a way.
If you read this thinking this is about you, don’t worry. It’s about all of us. 
It’s trite, but it’s true — You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink. No matter your good intentions, if the person you’re trying to help doesn’t want the help, there’s nothing you can do about it. The person you want to help, needs to make a commitment to change. As you’ve said, it’s not about willpower — it’s about commitment, which I believe are two different things. Until the person has made that commitment, there’s no much you can do. The person has to help him- or herself before you can help him or her.
The interesting point is that you’ve also made a commitment to this person you’re trying to help. What is your obligation to this person? Can you just say goodbye or do you sustain your communication? Maybe the motivation you’re trying isn’t inspiring the person to be committed.
You are so right! When I read your message I thought to myself: This person you are referring to sounds exactly like me. I do seem to always find an excuse why I don’t follow the fitness program exactly. I keep thinking if I just exercise (move my arms and legs) a few times I should lose some weight/develop some muscle… That just has not worked. Like you have told us, I must really make the commitment and stick to the goal to get fit and make it my main objective for the next 12 weeks. Must not allow disruptions to the plans I had promised myself I would follow. Otherwise, I will continue to be upset with myself and trying to figure out why I cannot or will not follow this simple plan to achieve my goal.
Well, each time I come to your site I get inspired again. So, today, I have decided I will visit your site every morning, as soon as I get up to remind/inspire me to stick to my plan. Thanks for all your effort, I am sure many, like me, will benefit from reading your inspiring messages. In 12 weeks, I hope to be able to let you know that I have finally completed my program !
I understand the frustration you speak of… but I also feel a sympathy of sorts for those suffering from UPS (Unrealized Potential Syndrome).
I fight bouts of UPS from time to time. I think at the root of it may be fear… I mean, if you remove all of the excuses that serves as fluffy pillows in the sometimes nightmarish landscape of real life, how ever would we protect ourselves from the failures that must occur on the path to success? We would have to face the eventual truth: We are our own Worst Enemy; the evil villain in our own quest for peace, fulfillment & happiness.
How does one confront & more importantly, conquer the enemy in the Mirror???
I struggle with this question every day.
I understand and sympathize with your thoughts and frustrations. I have a view and a plan for my life and how I will like to live the rest of my life and you see and know people with so much potential doing nothing for their own good, for their own benefit. It is like you want to make them think the same way you think, you try to put in their heads everything that you have in yours, but it doesn’t work that way. You try to make them see life through your eyes and thoughts and experiences, but you can’t. Only they can change the way they think, the way the feel the way they act. I will like to make a difference in everyone’s life, every single person I know, by saying something or do something that gets to them so deeply that makes them remember me for that and make a difference in their life. I wish to touch at least half of them. If I can help half, some of them, that will make me a better person. Not that I feel less than a good person now, but I want to make people want to do things for their own good for their own benefit. It can be loose some weight, it can be move to another country and make a better life, it can be change jobs, it can be go out and meet other people. It is a lot of things, I see it as a waste of time and potential and people and resources. A lot of people I know put more effort in things that are not really important and waste away their good side, their good karma. I have always think God or the Universe has a reason for every single person, like a home work, each one of us has a reason a mission to complete in our life and we can use that to help others also, not only ourselves. I think we have to take care of ourselves 1st and then we can go on and try to help and change others. I see every single thing that happens to me as an experience to learn something, it can be a good experience it can be a bad experience, but I always learn something from it and everything happens for a reason. I will never regret the things that I have done, I can regret the things I have not done yet and it is my goal to try to do everything I have always wanted to do, one way or another. May the force be with us.