July 2024

Some claim it’s a myth we only use ten percent of our potential. I don’t know how this can be accurately measured, but how much of your potential do you think you use?  My guess is most of us only tap into a small part of our potential at any given time even though our brains contain 100 billion neurons!

The days blend into weeks, months and then years and perhaps we feel like we accomplish so little besides trying to get through another day.  Is that enough?  Quite frankly, some days it is. 

There is an I Love Lucy episode that hits the nail on the head as far as potential goes.  Lucy has set out to bake bread and decides to use 13 cakes of yeast rather than the three the recipe called for, assuming more has got to be better.  As we can see in the clip, that isn’t always the case and not what should be motivating us.

Tiny granules of yeast have the potential to make things rise but things didn’t turn out too well for Lucy as we see in the exaggerated size of her loaf of bread.   

In birthing our potential, we have to grow from within, like the yeast.  This is not always fun, for the oven is hot, but if we wait the required amount of time, we will reap the results.  We must keep the end goal in sight, scrumptious perfectly golden bread.

Jesus teaches about potential first in the Parable of the Mustard Seed and then again in the Parable of the Yeast!  (Matt 13:31-33)

With potential also comes responsibility.  Humans have the potential to do good or evil.  There are two sides to every coin. Either the seed is sown and grows tall and strong, or it withers without the right conditions and care.  If the yeast is at exatly the right temperature, it spreads within the bread causing it to properly rise, but if the yeast is put in too high a temperature, it dies and the bread will turn out flat as a pancake.  One bad seed can spoil the whole batch.

But maybe achieving our potential isn’t about doing great, amazing things each day and making new discoveries for the world to behold.  Maybe the potential in each day is much simpler than that, like going grocery shopping for your family, being kind to a stranger, tending to your home or job responsibilities—wherever you are planted for that day.  Most days in life aren’t going to be skyrockets and fireworks exciting.

St. Therese of Lisieux and her Little Way says:  “Remember that nothing is small in the eyes of God.  Do all that you do with love.” and Mother Teresa of Calcutta is known for saying: “Not all of us can do great things.  But we can do small things with great love.” and “It’s not about how much you do, but how much love you put into what you do that counts.”  Both these saints were proponents of simplicity in life and fulfilled their potential through their daily tasks. 

But as comforting as the words from these two great saints sound, I often feel like it justifies copping out.  It’s almost too simple so when I lack motivation, their words can allow me to be satisfied with mediocrity rather than striving to grow or attain a goal.  It can be good to have at least a bit of dissatisfaction in life or we won’t aim higher.

So how do we become motivated to reach our potential when it is easier to just cop out or procrastinate since there are always a myriad of distractions and excuses? 

WAYS TO STAY MOTIVATED TO REACH YOUR POTENTIAL

• First, we need to step out of our comfort zone.  Don’t get stuck in a daily rut.  Try new things once in a while.

• Second, we need to discipline ourselves not to waste too much time on things that rob our time such as technology.

• Also, try to turn your fears and weaknesses into your greatest strengths or at least find ways to work around them.  If you have a rebellious streak, turn that into something positive and be bold toward a cause you are passionate about.  

• Find a mentor if appropriate, or analyze what successful people you admire have done.

• Learn how to do things you never thought you could do in order to achieve your goals.  Consider taking a class to learn new skills.

• Create actual concrete goals.  The SMART Framework is a popular method used by businesses.

• And the most important piece of advice:  NEVER GIVE UP!

In the end, it’s the tiny seeds we plant each day that matter, as the saints realized.  We don’t always see the growth of our efforts as they are taking place, just as the farmer doesn’t stand over his seeds until they grow into a mature crop.  He keeps busy sowing more seed or he won’t reap a harvest.   

I suspect most of us never use 100 percent of our potential at any given time in life, but we can keep trying to use our gifts in the small moments of each day.  Don’t be satisfied to just survive, but thrive as you inch closer to your goals.  And remember to be kind to yourself if you feel defeated, tomorrow is another day.