What is our potential?

What is our potential?

Photo credit: Alexandre Stolbstov

Have you ever thought what am I here for? What is the purpose of this life?

This has been my search for a long time..

A sense of purpose I believe starts from a niggling sense of something missing or not quite right in what you see around you. Like hold on is this all there is? Surely there must be more to it than this?

We are brought up in societies that set out clear ‘normal’ paths for us, tell us what is a ‘correct’ life and many people choose to follow these well trodden routes.

Now don’t get me wrong I am totally respectful of these traditional ways and seeing the value in them for our lives where we see fit.  In some ways they are more secure and stable and a lot of people value that great! But I also meet a lot of people that I see a yearning in, a thirst for something new and for something greater. Like there is a gap inside that is asking to be filled.

I believe that we all have a desire to contribute, to make our lives mean something, to give and receive love on a bigger scale than just our immediate family. I believe this yearning is a wake up call to our potential. That we have so much more to experience, give and receive in this life and that we can make a meaningful difference on this planet.

Let me tell you that I have spent many years of my life completely lost and feeling a great sense of emptiness inside. I have had a lot of amazing opportunities but have also experienced more than my fair share of pain and suffering and this is still something I struggle with today dealing with the affects of past trauma and many years spent disconnected from myself and those around me. It has taken me an enormous amount of courage and strength to keep going, to choose love and connection over fear, anger and shut down and to open myself more fully to the love and support that is around me.

But you know the thing that has kept me going through all the tough times (and the good) was that there was a higher purpose to this, that there is a beauty that emerges and cannot be touched by any amount of hardship.  I realised that we all have this incredible inner capacity and ability to shine and this became the thing that drove me more and more.

What would it look like to live in a world where people were encouraged and supported, reminded of their true potential?

We are fed so much garbage that tells us we are small, not worthy, that our dreams are stupid, not doable, ‘get real’ etc.  Well I say f**k that! What are we if we cannot dream? We were born to make a unique impression on this world. You and I, all of us can make a difference in whatever way we choose.

Sure the path may not be easy, we may have to face up to a lot of stuff in ourselves and each other but as a quote I like says “We bring our world alive when we shine our brilliance” [link]

Let us all step forward and not be afraid to shine our brilliance and remember our true potential. For is life worth living otherwise?

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Pathway to Potential is a registered charity supporting underpriveledged women in developing countries to reach their full potential through cooperative enterprise. Currently working in Tamil Nadu, south east India and now beginning to work in Thailand and other parts of Asia, Pathway to Potential sincerely hopes and dreams that this work and model can be shared and replicated around the world.

If you want to know more you can reach Katherine at info@pathwaytopotential.org