Your potential unlocked...
Do you feel you’re not living the best version of your life? In those quiet moments, have you wondered whether there’s a whole load of potential in you and that it’s being wasted?
Some of the most common goals my clients come to me with is around finding clarity in direction or purpose, or how to make more of their potential. So, how can you explore this for yourself? With some dedicated time, honest enquiry and a bit of ‘getting out of your own way’ (in other words, not getting bogged down with the ‘how?’ questions), you can create the space for that potential to come through – to find its voice, free from the mental constraints of some unhelpful thinking and beliefs that no longer serve you.
You deserve to be happy, fulfilled and thriving. So, now could be the time to grow, explore and open yourself up to more possibilities. Take a look at the questions and tips below and see if there are some keys there to unlocking more of YOU.
1. What are the top 3 things that have you feel fulfilled and happy?
Don’t limit yourself here, reflect on what you really truly enjoy, which could be anything from being in nature, creating and caring for your family to driving, doing yoga every day, travelling or teaching. Be honest with yourself as you reflect upon these things.
“When you recover or discover something that nourishes your soul and brings joy, care enough about yourself to make room for it in your life.” Jean Shinoda Bolen
2. What’s getting in the way you enjoying your life?
Are you spending way too much time on your smart phone? Or continually checking emails? Then create some boundaries around this and take time off your devices.
Is your work so full-on there’s no time for anything else? Maybe it’s time to reassess your job, the role or even consider something brand new.
Or perhaps your own critical or judgemental thoughts are holding you back…’what if I fail?’ or ‘I’m just no good at…’. Check in with yourself and become aware of when that critical voice is present. It’s not you, it’s just a thought, an opinion – it’s not real. When you do catch yourself with those thoughts, observe them, call them out then look to reframe them more positively so ‘what if I fail?’ becomes ‘what if I succeed?’, and ‘I’m no good at…’ becomes, ‘I’m working on changing that…’. Make a commitment to change that negative self-talk.
“You have been criticizing yourself for years, and it hasn’t worked. Try approving of yourself and see what happens.” Louise Hay
3. What’s the one thing you would want to accomplish in your life?
This is not about coming up a whole list of ideas, instead think about only one thing that you would have like to have achieved or accomplished before you die. One. When you get really clear on that, you can focus more energy on the pursuit of this. So, for example, if your answer is around ensuring you have a happy, healthy family, then you may need to re-orientate your days to create more quality time with them. If it’s to become a published author, then you’d better get writing. Life really is precious, so make the most of it.
“Live every day as if it were going to be your last; for one day you’re sure to be right.” Harry Morant
4. Go time travelling…
The past: Go back in time, imagine you’re a young adult – what would the YOU today tell the younger you? You could do this as a letter to your younger self, or a diary entry - write it down. What would you advise that younger self?
The future: Imagine you are years or months from now…standing there, what decisions would you make today to be where you are? Visualise yourself in the future, maybe three years or even just six months ahead, doing or being in a situation you’d like for yourself. Without thinking about how you got there, just feel it, see it and sense it. Now, think about what decisions or actions you would have to start taking today to get to that? We don’t change if we don’t act and do something differently. What has to change?
5. You’re way better than you think you are; what are your strengths and attributes?
Write down all the stuff you’re good at – the kind of things people might compliment you on or tell you and also what you know to be true yourself. You can change your perspective by focusing on the gifts you have, rather than what you lack. Consider also about the strengths you used when you’ve been successful at something – say a job, a relationship, goals you’ve achieved. When you get clear about those strengths, make sure you’re applying them as often as you can.
6. Stop caring about what other people may think of you
We’ve usually got enough of our inner critic going on without amplifying that by being concerned about what others may think of us. Besides, we can never really know as most of these thoughts are just assumptions anyway. This kind of thinking gets in the way of action.
“We are so scared of being judged that we look for every excuse to procrastinate.” Erica Jong
7. Visualise to materialise
Visualisation is a powerful tool that has been used by successful people for many years. From winning athletes to peak-performing entrepreneurs, enabling them to create laser focus and clearly defined goals. Visualization stimulates the creative powers of your subconscious mind, motivating it to work harder at creating solutions. You can experience new levels of motivation and find yourself doing things that you haven’t tried before or have avoided, but that will take you closer to success.
It’s a simple process of just sitting comfortably, closing your eyes and using your imagination to create vivid pictures – like a dream of what you have realised and achieved; the life you want for yourself. Imagine in as much detail as you can…what you see, hear, smell, taste and feel. You can do this for individual goals, like a new job or business, a new relationship, or an overall picture of the success you wish for yourself. You can support this approach by doing the visualisations daily, then backing it up with affirmations that support it. Vision boards are also a fun way to bring your goals to life.
8. Honour thyself
Know what matters to you, your values, and what’s important. When you are honouring these aspects, you are in a place of authentic self. If you continually compromise what you care about, and who you are, it’s not only tiring and frustrating but what’s more you risk not fulfilling your full potential and the flow that comes from honouring who you are.
“One of the greatest regrets in life is being what others would want you to be, rather than being yourself.” Shannon L. Alder
So, isn’t it time you unlocked that beautiful potential in you?
