“We spend January 1st walking through our lives, room by room, drawing up a list of work to be done, cracks to be patched. Maybe this year, to balance the list, we ought to walk through the rooms of our lives…not looking for flaws, but for potential.” – Ellen Goodman
I like the idea that this year we’ll look forward not at the work to be done or cracks to be patched. No, we’re done looking for flaws, let’s look for potential.
And isn’t that what a new year is all about – Potential? Webster’s defines Potential as – existing in possibility.
I spent a lot of time last year talking about getting up and going forward in your amazing life because I believe a spark of potential exists in each us. We just need to fan that spark first into a flame, and then into a fire. By the way, don’t worry, I’ll continue that theme about going forward in your amazing life. That is born out of meeting so many people in my work and travels who refuse, can’t, or are unwilling to see the potential that I see in them.
Over the holidays I met with a number of wonderful people who had reached out to me. They asked how to move forward in their lives or how to find their passion or how to forgive themselves enough to breath again. Good, honest, kind, loving, amazing people who focused so much on their flaws they couldn’t see their potential. Some went so far as to sadly tell me they had no potential. To that I laughed like Santa with his little round belly that shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly and told them in the nicest way possible that they are ridiculous!
Of course you have potential – everyone does. Now what you do about it is your responsibility, Yes, this takes work on your part. For so many, it’s like helping you dig through the closets of your life to pull out that dream that you put on the shelf; whether by anger or frustration, time or talent, family or work responsibilities. That idea that makes your heart glad, that enlivens you to the thought of doing something about it – that concept you just keep pondering over in your mind wondering if it might work. Friends, you need to let your potential shine through and let’s see if we can make it work – or at least try.
The potential is there, you know it – others see it – but you have to trust the step will be there as you walk forward. And can I assure you that many times the step is there it’s just hidden under years of neglect.
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