The Next Potential

po·ten·tial

/pəˈten(t)SHəl/

Adjective: Having or showing the capacity to become or develop into something in the future.
​
Noun: Latent qualities or abilities that may be developed and lead to future success or usefulness.

Potential to me is found within a blend of capacity and possibility. As we expand our capacity to respond to life in masterful ways, we increase the amount of possibilities we have access to.  ​

The key word here is “access”. Possibilities are all around us at all times.  We do not create possibilities. They are already there. We create access to the possibilities when we respond in ways that grant access.  In essence as coaches we help a client clear the blockages to their potentials, and this process naturally grants them access to the possibilities surrounding them. 

For example:  If I’m stuck in a self-deception cycle of “I’m limited” and as a result I am reactive with my co-workers, I’m less likely to get that promotion I wanted because my capacity for being fluent with my team was so low.  The possibility is there, but I'm blocked from accessing it.

In essence, our potential correlates to our ability to increase our capacity, opening the door to opportunities and granting access to more and more possibilities. Life gets exciting at this point because we then get to choose which ones we want to step into.

Also, there is an irony in the definition of potential. When we define it, we limit it.

What I mean by this is that by defining potential, we then put a box around and can unintentionally limit it. Yet, ironically we need to define it to head in the direction of it. Head scratching!

In masterfully approaching our potential then it is best to not attach to our goals for our potential as if they were the end all. Then, when we reach the goals of our potential, to redefine them in new ways, or not at all. 

The other key is to unfold in the direction of our potential and not away from it. This is where teachers and coaching comes in. They ensure we are unfolding in the correct direction.  This sounds like a no brainer, however, it is a common error to completely “go it alone”. (I say completely, because part of our work is on, and of, our own.)​

This is especially important when we
go through the phase of growth
where self-deception is harder to detect.​

Anytime we enter completely new territory we are more susceptible to self-deception because it is harder to detect. 

The tricky thing about self-deception is that we often can’t see we are being clouded by it.  This is where a teacher or coach steps in to help counter illusions we face during the growth process.  
Coaching is a very key short-cut to our potential.
We can't fix what we don't see.