Mice have the reputation as timid creatures. This may or may not be fair, but accepting the caricature for a moment, mice are focused on surviving. On coping with the demands of survival. Food, shelter, safety, avoiding risks.
On the other hand…
Nelson Mandela is a fantastic example of a man who has increased and realised his potential. Born in 1918, he had a small chance of going to university. One could have thought that going to university was achieving his potential. But that achievement increased his potential. Not through a conventional route though. Because of his involvement in politics, he was asked to leave after his first year.
One would have thought this would reduce his potential. Not Mandela. He moved to Johannesburg, began working in a law firm and studied law as well. One could have thought that becoming a qualified lawyer was achieving his potential. Not Mandela.
Becoming close to the impact of Apartheid, he became more involved in politics, until, as we know he got imprisoned for 27 years. For most people this would reduce our potential. Not Mandela. During that time, he became the de-facto leader in waiting of his country. He dictated the terms of his release, not the authorities, and became the first president of the Rainbow Nation. Surely this was achieving his potential? Not Mandela.
His presidency had so much goodwill from so many directions, it was always going to be much harder for those who followed him. So much harder for him to hand over the reins of power and it not turn into a bloodbath amid recriminations. Yet with his truth and reconciliation policies, this was achieved. Surely this was Mandela achieving his potential? Not Mandela.
He then went on to aim to rid his continent of AIDS. Whether this is achieved in his lifetime, or indeed ever, we may not know, but what we do know is that looking back we can see how each achievement, each situation contributed to the extension of his potential, and then he went on to realise much of it.
That’s the nature of potential. No-one will ever achieve it. That’s how capable we are. The more we do, the more we can do.
The question is which are you? And the probable honest answer is a mix of both. Sometimes I achieve, sometimes I’m just focussed on survival. We can’t be both at the same time. Sometimes I take risks that could increase and realise my potential, other times, I let my fears, worries, concerns hold me back.
Getting that balance right is a key skill that people learn on the Outlook course. They then can apply what they learnt in their everyday lives.
How and where you invest in yourself is up to you. The more you do, the more fulfilment and happiness you will experience.
Posts: 2
Reply #2 on : Sun January 15, 2012, 08:50:04
Posts: 2
Reply #1 on : Sun January 15, 2012, 03:34:21
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