On May 6th, 1954
In Oxford, England, 25-year-old medical student Roger Bannister was determined to do the impossible. For years, many athletes had tried and failed to run a mile in less than four minutes that people made it out to be a physical impossibility. Roger Bannister, who was running for the Amateur Athletic Association against his alma mater, Oxford University, won the mile race with a time of 3 minutes and 59.4 seconds. He had done what nearly everyone else said could not be done. How? He had a goal and reached out to grab his potential. Once he had done it, others followed. He had broken the bonds humanity put on themselves.
When the Original Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) was released in the 1980s many of the technological geniuses stated that they had reached the potential that could be had in that field of entertainment. Luckily there were also those that disagreed with that statement.
“The potential of the average person is like a huge ocean unsailed, a new continent unexplored, a world of possibilities waiting to be released and channeled toward some great good.” -Brian Tracy
There are two types of potential we can discuss. The first relates to the dreams and successes we wish to achieve in this life, with this potential the unfortunate fact is not everyone will accomplish every dream they have. Please do not let this statement hinder you from trying, but that is simple fact. The personal growth and potential that can be ours is an entirely different story, this is a portion of our life we have much more control over. Some of the greatest examples I know in life live in very meager ways, but i honor and respect them because they understand what really matters most in this life.
We have such incredible potential as human beings. Yet we limit ourselves in so many ways. For some people they simply do not care. For others the reality and possibility of failure hinders them from even trying. Personally I have no desire to try and run a 4 minute mile. The fact is for me long distance running has always been a challenge, but just recently i have set a goal to be capable of running 3 miles in under 25 minutes. Too much of the running world this may not seem like anything spectacular, but that is MY goal, it is one that is surrounded by many other goals.
The potential I desperately seek to fulfill is my potential as a good father and husband, as a good example to my peers and those i come in contact with, as an individual people know they can turn to in a time of need. I want to be the best example i can for my future children, if I have something i need to stop doing to achieve this goal I am more than willing to do it. If I expect my children to be living a certain way i have no right at all to be living different standards. I know to become this person i must be willing to sacrifice things that i may think I need, or that seem important, and I am okay with that. I fight for the greater good, especially since i know by striving to fulfill these goals for the sake of others; I myself am being refined into an individual that was much better than where i started.
“Continuous effort - not strength or intelligence - is the key to unlocking our potential.” -Liane Cordes
We do not have to be the strongest or smartest to reach our potential. We are all different people, our goals and desires will be different. It comes down to the dedication we put into achieving our goals and desires. Unless I have the desire to do it, I’m not going to. That desire may come from personal want, it may come from my fiancés encouragement, or maybe the council of another person that I respect and trust.
“Your past is not your potential. In any hour you can choose to liberate the future.” -Marilyn Ferguson
The beauty of this life is change. We do not have to be constantly weighed down by mistakes of the past. We have the opportunity and ability to abandon those things that cause us feeling of regret. Just remember the future starts with actions that we make today.
"Everyone has inside of him a piece of good news. The good news is that you don't know how great you can be! How much you can love! What you can accomplish! And what your potential is!" -Anne Frank
“Argue for your limitations and sure enough they're yours.” -Richard Bach
At times we tend to convince ourselves of the idea that "this is just how I am, and it's not going to change." It's not that we are necessarily doing something bad, but is it really what we know will bring us the greatest happiness? I have said it before and I’ll state it many more times, I am a stubborn individual in many ways, but I also know that change can be the greatest thing. I am stubborn, but I do all I can to heed the counsel and advice of those people that I know will lead me in the right direction. I know I am meant to become much more then I now am, and if I am to reach that potential I must be willing to make the changes I know I need to. This life is a journey, I would never expect to change overnight, but I do know that I must take the steps to make the change happen. If i coast my way through life simply accepting what I am and where I am at, I will never make it.
"Who are we? We are children of God. Our potential is unlimited. Our inheritance is sacred. May we always honor that heritage — in every thought and deed." -Russell M. Nelson
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