The "High Potential" Handicap

Theory #20 | Be careful what you let define you.

"Smart" kids are always praised for their high potential. They’re deemed inherently capable of so much, largely because of their natural talents. And not only that but their disposition at a young age suggests they’ll be able to harness those talents into something big. They can do anything they want, if they just try.

I was one of these kids. I had so much potential — to be a great surgeon, to be a great lawyer, to be a great musician, to be many great things. I got used to being someone who had the potential to really be someone. And it was a good feeling.

One that I soon learned didn’t hold as much value as it at first seemed.

II

One problem with having “high potential” is that it’s a false identity. You can’t be someone today on the basis of a fictional future you that hasn’t yet arrived. And when your present identity is too dependent on your future (more impressive) identity, you risk wanting to just merge them out of what I refer to as ego-convenience. The problem is, if you merge…