The Weight of Potential

"Sometimes we have this idea that people have potential they’re not maximizing, and our goal in our relationship with them becomes getting them to see that potential. We want them to become what we think they should be. But here’s the thing: people have to see their own potential. They have to be able to see a way out of their circumstances, and we can’t do that for them." — Nedra Glover Tawwab

This quote resonates deeply with me. In both my professional and personal life, I’ve often found myself chasing after the shimmer of potential—believing that if I could just help someone see what I see, they would rise into it. Sometimes that belief has been a gift. Other times, it has blinded me to reality, to what is truly standing in front of me.

The truth is sobering: potential is not enough. If someone doesn’t believe in it, doesn’t see it, or doesn’t want to realize it, there is nothing I can do. And the reverse is equally true—if others see something in me that I cannot yet grasp, I will resist it. Without belief, effort, and readiness, potential remains a mirage.

What happens then? Resentment. Frustration. Burnout. I’ve lived this cycle—pouring energy into trying to control outcomes, wanting to win at all costs, only to end up bitter and exhausted.

The hardest lesson I’ve learned is knowing when to stop. To recognize the absence of belief or effort, and to honor that reality instead of fighting against it. Balance is essential. Just as I must believe to achieve, so must others.

This is not about giving up on people—it’s about respecting their journey. It’s about releasing the illusion that I can carry someone else’s transformation on my back. And it’s about remembering that my own growth depends on the same principle: belief, effort, and the willingness to see myself clearly.

Peace and Blessings

Reflection Prompt for You:

Where in your life are you chasing potential that isn’t ready to be realized? What would it look like to pause, to honor the truth of what is, and to redirect your energy toward what is alive and possible right now?

If this reflection speaks to you, subscribe to journey with me as I continue exploring the lessons of growth, balance, and belief.