Potential for Landmines

blog cover image
4
96 followers
Updated

Reaching Your Potential

Doesn't it sound so romantic?

Every time I bring this up, people smile. They like the sound of it. I am helping them become the best version of who they are.

In theory, reaching your potential is fun. It is everything you want and more! It is like wanting to go to Disneyworld or--better yet--wanting to have a baby.

There are two types of people in the world. People who look forward with naivete and people who look back with wisdom.

Let me explain...

People who look forward with naivete have no capacity to understand the hell they're about to go through in order to achieve their dreams.

I know some people are wiser than others but experience has a way of shaping you in places that knowledge cannot reach.

People who look back with wisdom (if they're honest with themselves and others) see the achievement as bittersweet. It is definitely rewarding but, on the same token, was riddled with unforeseen difficulty.

Think about it...

Have you ever gone to Disneyworld?

If you have, you know that it is more than just a magical place filled with adventure. If you're like me, you know that Disneyworld is filled with sunburn, long lines, and children at the brink of insanity.

One day, while I was there, I saw a child walking along with a plate full of french fries. He tripped on something, face-planted, his fries went everywhere, and then he was immediately attacked by a flock of hungry seagulls eager to devour his fries.

Magical place right?

Have you ever wanted to have a baby?

I did, too! And then I had one.

Everything was super romantic until we found out my daughter had enlarged brain ventricles and was going to need emergency surgery immediately after being born.

This led to weekly drives to go see a specialist from week 18 up until she was born so that they could monitor her condition. Those weeks were filled with fear as we wondered if our daughter was going to be okay.

We didn't know if she would live. And if she did live, we didn't know if she'd have severe brain trauma and not be able to lead a normal life.

Now I believe that every baby is a blessing no matter what health condition they may have and I would've loved and cared for my daughter no matter how she came out. But there's a big difference between how you love a child that is and how you dream for a child that's not yet.

Ask any parent who has a child with Downs Syndrome and they will tell you they absolutely love their child. But if you ask them if they would wish Downs Syndrome on their next child, you may get punched in the face. If they're honest with you, they would say no.

I am only writing this out like this because I want you to connect with the thoughts and emotions I had at the time before my daughter was born. You may not agree with them but take it at face value and see that I was buried in insecurity during a time that I was trying to achieve a life long goal.

Then my wife went into labor...

BACK LABOR!

If you don't know, back labor is extremely painful. My wife labored for several hours. My daughter was a day late and had no plans of being born any time soon.

After we basically forced her to be born, she made us pay for it for nine months by interrupting our sleep regularly with screaming fits of rage. Brave parents would offer to hold her and then hand her back when they found that their tricks wouldn't work on her.

This super romantic dream we had went nightmare and it was all we could do to keep our heads above water.

Now Stella is 2 1/2 years old and is such a joy. No she didn't need emergency surgery after she was born. Her brain condition reversed itself on its own.

She's smart as a whip and just went fishing for the first time.

What about the landmines?

Here's the deal...

In order for you to reach your true potential, you need to be willing to walk through the minefield of your insecurities.

Trust me. You're full of them. Just try to put yourself out there. Just think about getting out of your comfort zone. Life has a way of bringing them up.

Let's make a game plan so you can be ready for when you step on one...

Step 1: Get to know yourself

This will help you immensely in every area of life:

Successful people play to their strengths and compensate for their weaknesses.

If you get to know yourself, you will be able to see stuff before it happens. This is super important because you'll be able to start Step 2 before you do any damage.

Step 2: Reach out to someone who knows you. Someone you can trust.

I know. Some of you can't trust anyone. I'm sorry. This advice won't help you at all. Good luck!

Okay. Nevermind. Here's some quick advice. If you want to find someone to risk it with, choose a quiet person. They're much less likely to blab your secrets to anyone because they simply don't blab.

For those of us who have already risked it with enough people to find who we can trust, give them a call.

Sometimes you'll be giving them a call because you stepped on a landmine already but, if you keep your eyes open, you'll do this...

Make a bookend call.

This is when you reach out before entering the danger zone and then afterward to tell how it went.

So how does that help me make more money online?

It doesn't. At least not directly. What it does do is it keeps your plate clear of unnecessary emotional clutter that kills your focus and productivity.

How many of you have procrastinated at all in the past year because of relational conflicts killing your focus?

I know I have. And you know what else I do? I sit there staring at a blinking cursor killing every idea that comes to my mind because I'm afraid of what people will think of me if I fail.

If I can write that to 85,000+ people, you can share your insecurity with 1.

Step 3: Go see a counselor

No. They're not just for crazy people.

Someone asked me the other day why I go to counseling and I told them because a good counselor is gifted in the area of facilitating epiphany.

Like I said in my last post. Good artists seek inspiration. In the same way, wise people go to others when they want help to reach a light bulb moment. It doesn't have to happen at rock bottom.

Step 4: Build a foundation of supportive people around you

Don't do the world the disservice of going it alone. You could shine so much brighter with a support system. You will reach further and be more effective.

Your network is your net worth. (I'd quote who said this but I don't know who said it first).

Recap

In order to reach your potential, you're going to need to walk through the minefield of your own insecurity. Don't be afraid. Understand this to be true.

Play to your strengths and compensate for your weaknesses.

Follow the steps and you will persevere.

One last piece of advice...

The biggest difference between a physical landmine and an emotional one is your ability to choose the outcome.

When you step on a physical landmine, you die.

When you step on an emotional landmine, you get to choose.

Will you let this end you?

Or will you persevere?

Thank you for reading.

If you got anything out of this, I would appreciate it if you could say thank you by following me and becoming part of my support system as my walk through my minefield trying to make money as an affiliate marketer.

Best regards,

David Leathers

Creator of YourMusic.Coach

Login
Create Your Free Wealthy Affiliate Account Today!
icon
4-Steps to Success Class
icon
One Profit Ready Website
icon
Market Research & Analysis Tools
icon
Millionaire Mentorship
icon
Core “Business Start Up” Training

Recent Comments

1

Thanks for the insights, David, our experiences can shape us it is up to us if they define us and at times we can reach out to the folks around us to get some inspiration that can help to fill in some of the gaps.

It can be amazing how that, added input can galvanize our perceptions and empower us moving forward.

Login
Create Your Free Wealthy Affiliate Account Today!
icon
4-Steps to Success Class
icon
One Profit Ready Website
icon
Market Research & Analysis Tools
icon
Millionaire Mentorship
icon
Core “Business Start Up” Training