Another New Year has arrived. We're certain you have heard friends & family make all kinds of resolutions for the coming year, improving their fitness level, cleaning out that old closet, learning a new language; even, read that stack of books piled up by the bed. Many of us use resolutions to solve problems or frustrations that you have endlessly experienced in daily life. Unfortunately, we think that these can be dissolved if we make false promises (resolutions) to ourselves. These promises do not change underlying behavior or alter deep lifestyle molds. But, what if we stopped making resolutions; and perhaps, truly explore our untapped potential?
How many times have you heard someone regretfully state that they wish they had written poetry, taken that cultural exchange trip, or opened that day spa? What internal areas of self were calling to be released? We don't know how long we will live, but the capacity to fully live your potential is a central endowment. As we age, new opportunities open for us, and new challenges may confront us. Aside from aging in each year, the potential of your life's contribution should not end with career retirement, personal mobility issues, or the achievement of a specific age. Let's examine some basics that help us take risk and release hidden potential.
The fear of public failure can stop us from taking that first leap. Repeatedly, we are paralyzed by experiences that were part of our learning process, as children, as college students, and especially as adults. The memories of past unpleasant events trigger the emotional trauma that we originally experienced, projecting it onto our lives of today. Accordingly, we cannot free ourselves from living in the mood of fear. This is not to state that fear should not be respected; but, combined with another element can serve us to exploit our potential in new ventures. What is that element?
Courage.
Courage is not the demonstration of recklessness. In the war film of 'Full Metal Jacket', you saw heroism displayed only to have the hero perish for his valor. Courage propels us to act with a solid foundation of values in place. Courage can enable us to view cultural differences, radical business speculations, or large scale humanitarian projects in new interpretations without conflict. Fear combined with courage creates an energy to go forward with wisdom, the guiding force to prudently produce new results. Where have these two elements brought success on a global level?
Consider the international medical humanitarian organization of Doctors Without Borders-Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). MSF was founded in 1971 as a nongovernmental organization to both provide emergency medical assistance and bear witness publicly to the plight of the people it assists. This was an independent risk venture to attract medical professionals on a volunteer basis to deliver emergency aid to people affected by armed conflict, epidemics, natural or man-made disasters in more than 70 countries. World sources said, 'No medical resources will volunteer for this"! On the contrary, MSF volunteers frequently work in the most remote or dangerous parts of the world. When crises unfold, they make themselves and their skills available on short notice, usually dedicating six to twelve months to each assignment.
Think of what else can be accomplished, personally, professionally, or globally if we change our interpretations from those based on conformity, fear of failure, fear of rejection, peer approval, social status, age, and resignation, to narratives that encourage creativity and ingenuity. Narratives that we tell our internal selves and those around us that liberating our inner potentials can be our realities.
As you review your untapped potential, ask yourself:
o What research do you need to collect first, market data from industry experts, business networking contacts, physical improvement, family encouragement, even an equity loan, to achieve that potential project? And what period are you allocating for yourself to gather this information for success?
o What are the outside challenges that jeopardize the incremental progression of your creative project such as, once you conducted your market research for that day spa who will be your champions to help realize it?
o What's the biggest challenge you've faced in harnessing your courage, not enough internal permission, too much social conformity, a need for personal security, etc.? Why do think this is?
o Under what conditions could you tap your inner potential? Do you need to review your working environment, personal home conditions, or discarding relationships you have outgrown?
o How will you design in flexibility so that you don't become de-railed and abandon the entire potential creative process? What vehicle or mechanisms will keep you focused on the plan, software tools such as Quicken, a personal financial planner, a support group, or even a spiritual support leader?
o How will you discard old inner assessments that you couldn't achieve the proposed project, 'too old to do this now' or 'my adult children will never accept me doing this'? How will you feel when you discard these stories, relief, sovereignty, anxiousness, mental lightness, independence?
o What would be the benefits and consequences of pursuing your new creativity when it breaks out of the generally accepted social practices of your culture? What invisible rules will you be violating and can you discard any resulting guilt?
o What if your potential contributions to the world, and yourself, are dependent on an appreciation of yourself? How would appreciation for yourself affect your decisions over taking risks and entering into a new venture?
"Our past is not our potential. In any hour, with all the stubborn teachers and healers of history who called us to our best selves, we can liberate the future. One by one, we can re-choose to awaken, to leave the prison of our conditioning, to love, to turn homeward." --Marilyn Ferguson
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