Your Potential From Someone Else’s Perspective
What Could Someone Who Appreciated It, Do With Your Life?
Try this to gain a renewed energy for what you can accomplish, just as you are: Write a description of the most positive attributes about yourself, your life, your personal situation, your health, your fitness, finances, friendships and the other main aspects of your life. Leave out anything negative and only describe the positive. (As if you were writing a description for e-Harmony or a new job!)
Look over that list of the best things about you and consider what a reasonable person would say could be accomplished with the person you have described. Are there some people who would love to be the things you are and to have the things you have? What would a highly motivated person do with your life? What could you do in the next few hours, few days or few weeks, to make the most of the best parts of the life you have? If someone else was going to take what you have to the optimal level, what would they need to eliminate, replace, do more of or emphasize?
Another Exercise To Get You Moving
If you hired someone to manage your life and maximize your chances for health, happiness and success, what would they likely suggest that you do, not do, do more of or do instead of, what you are doing now?
Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Our chief want in life is someone who will make us do what we can.” Be that person for yourself. Consider working with a coach or counselor, a friend or group who will remind you, guide you and push you when you need it.
The main thing is this: You have enough in your life that someone would envy you. You have enough that someone with good judgment and focus could do great things with it. Appreciate that and resolve–then follow through–to do as much as possible with what you have. There is a thought, attributed to several writers, most notably Mary Anne Evans (George Eliot): “It’s never too late to become what you might have been.” Believe it and keep moving toward your best dreams and goals.
Tina! We either have some weird ESP or you just happen to know what to say when we need it. Mike and I are reading this together and you just don’t know what it means to us to get your positive thoughts right now. Thank you. Sounds mushy but we both love you!
Comment by denisek | April 2, 2011
Tina says: Well, Denise and Mike, I’m happy to have said the right thing when you needed it. You’re great people and have a lot to offer. From my perspective you have every potential for a wonderful life–I hope it feels that way to you!
Comment by TLR | April 2, 2011
Very powerful thoughts! I was referred to your site by my brother who heard you speak in California. I can see his accolades were well deserved. This post meant more to me right now than ever before since we recently had an officer killed in the line of duty. What he could do if he had the life some others are using so badly! I will remember him if I ever think about shirking. Thank you for your service to the profession.
Comment by Canadian | April 4, 2011
Tina says: Thank you, Canadian, for your comments–they expressed the concept very, very well. Keep in touch and best wishes!
Comment by TLR | April 4, 2011
I’ve been trying this idea all week and it’s been a big help for me.You’re right, it’s like having coaches for everything. It seems like I have a lot of friends or family who have various areas they do better in than me. So, I think about what “Vern” would say I should do when I exercise and what “Shirley” would say I should eat, etc. The sad part is I don’t think anyone would pick ME to help them with anything except how to work hard, but they probably do that better too. Oh well! Good post though, thanks!
Comment by H.L.W. | April 6, 2011