“Argue for your limitations, and sure enough they’re yours.” – Richard Bach (American Writer)
Self-doubt is the ultimate stopper of all good things. I’ve often struggled with the thin line between humility and self-doubt. Don’t think I’ve quite solved it. If you knew the myriad of Below the Line thoughts I have before engaging in an activity, you’d be shocked.
Yet, I also am quick to try to be humble, to shift the praise to someone else, and in so doing, to shine the light away from things I may actually be good at.
And by doing that, I fear I may be arguing for my limitations.
“Nope, I can’t do that.”
“Sorry, I’m not equipped to make that happen. You should ask someone else.”
“Oh ok, yeah, that’s beyond my capability to accomplish.”
And sure enough, the limitations I’ve set for myself, I get to keep.
Yet, I’m also convinced that if I agree with my potential, I get to grow into it. There are many things I can’t do…now. But with disciplined work and action, maybe someday I can. There are tons of inadequacies I carry with me. But with consistent effort and care, maybe I can become adequate, dare I say…maybe more than adequate.
What separates my current state from my future potential, is doing the work. That gap between who I am today and what my potential is tomorrow can be wide and fraught with tribulation. And because the work is hard, unfortunately, that’s where many of us stop. And we leave our potential on the table, never to be grasped, never to be accomplished.
The chasm, too wide.
The work, too arduous.
The discipline needed, too hard.
Yet, though stopping short of our potential defines many, does it need to define me…to define us? May it never be! Step forward into the work of growing into your potential. Work hard at pursuing your purpose. Don’t accept the lies of your limitations. Spring to action and make your future bigger than your past. Glance over your shoulder from time to time to remind yourself of what used to be. Then, face forward, shoulders back, and take a step. Then, walk. Then, run. Your potential is within reach.
Do the work. Brick by brick.
Grow into your potential today.
