Have you Achieved your Potential?

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I just completed reading yet another Asperger book entitled, “Asperger Syndrome and Anxiety: A Guide to Successful Stress Management” by Nick Dubin.

I was interested in the book, because I had a history of worry and depression. In fact, one of my treasured objects as a child was a Worry Bird.

Though, to be honest, my anxiety levels are (and have been) nowhere as debilitating as those described by the author.

In any event, the following quotation in the book really hit home with me:

Interestingly, I always thought I had a special purpose in life. And, I always felt like I had something special to offer the world. But for some reason, I have never been able to figure out what that was. My inability to identify and act upon that “something special” has been very disappointing. I am at the point where I feel like giving up.

For me, I don’t believe anxiety has been holding me back. Maybe it’s lack of confidence. Maybe it’s timid-ness. Maybe it’s lack of passion. Maybe it’s lack of internal fortitude. I don’t know.

My questions for others in the community are:
- Do you feel like you had a special purpose or great potential?
- If you achieved that potential, how did you go about it?
- If you have yet to achieve that potential, what are your plans to pursue it? What is holding you back? Is it anxiety? Or something else?

I only have potential for things I don't want. I have the potential to become a great accountant but I hate accounting. I was the top of my accounting class in highschool but I hated it. The things I would find meaningful are less business orientated. If anything I would want to make people's lives better but unfortunately I have little to no potential for doing that.

I have not achieved my potential because I don't want to. What I want to do is something I don't have the potential for. What I have the potential for is something I don't want to do.

You bet.

I feeling this to a rather strong degree at the moment.

I've just had my 26 birthday. I feel anything is possible, yet at the same time I feel very distressed by my lack of proof of my potential.

Do you feel like you had a special purpose or great potential?

No, I'm happy to just be alive

- If you achieved that potential, how did you go about it?

I didn't

- If you have yet to achieve that potential, what are your plans to pursue it? What is holding you back? Is it anxiety? Or something else?

I don't think we're all meant to be high achievers - it's ok to do what you like and not have to impress everyone all the time

People are told they're special just to get them to buy stuff - some make the mistake of swallowing this hook line and sinker then end up as disillusioned alcoholics by the time they're 50, saying lines like "I coulda been someone, I coulda been a contender!"

Society does love to build people up just to knock them down!

Be wise to this!

People with enough talent, motivation and ambition can achieve great success and make loads of money though btw

I'm just not one of those people and can admit it to myself

I've felt that I had some special purpose for being here since I was very young. I have yet to determine where that great potential lies, but I'm pretty determined to figure it out. I definitely think that anxiety is a large contributor to my lack of "success," as well as having a very untrained hyper-active brain that keeps me from focusing on anything for any extended period of time.

Rather than stressing over searching out and reaching that potential, I've decided to start working on training my mind to focus better so that, when the time comes, I will be able to pursue and develop it. I guess I'm focusing less on "the big picture" (what I want) and more on the steps to achieve it (what needs to happen to get there.)

No. I haven't reached my plateau yet. I wanted to be a rock star but I failed. I definitely don't want to be a nurse but I have no choice. I have to pay the rent or be homeless. I'm holding out hope that my writings can pay the rent somewhere up the road.

I don't feel like I have a lot of potential -I don't have a lot of ambition, motivation or talent. I do think that I have some potential, the potential to contribute something small to society. I haven't reached my potential yet. As to what's holding me back; indecisiveness? low self esteem? anxiety? fear of rejection because of constant failure in the past? laziness? Maybe a combination of the above....I'm not sure.

I haven´t. I´ve seen things slip away due to anxiety and low self esteem, even though I have been working on things.
I am hoping to make a sort of new start and become more confident.

Last edited by Jensen on 13 May 2013, 7:51 pm, edited 1 time in total.

I'm working on it. I'm verry merry berry driven towards my goals. I'm working on becoming a neuroscience researcher.

Anxiety is some crazy s**t, fully blocks your mind. But u need to control it or else u dont do anything useful at all, or worst.
I can feel my potential slowly getting a shape.
But i fail in letting people know about it.

In regards to certain things, I don't feel as though I've achieved my potential. During my college years I accumulated 30 synthesizers that I was planning on using for recording projects. I made one synthesizer album---which only sold locally.

I have numerous writing projects planned---but find it difficult to complete one. However, I am planning on working seriously on these projects this summer.

I have wanted to complete my HO scale train-o-rama for many years now. I have accumulated approximately 300 HO scale buildings. But, the train-o-rama is yet to be built.

- Do you feel like you had a special purpose or great potential?
I used to feel that there was potential in life but this has been chipped and chiseled away through time. I thought change was possible but I do not hold much optimism for this now.

- If you achieved that potential, how did you go about it?
I have lots of skills but do not seem able to apply them or work with anybody else. I really hope that this is not my peak of achievements.

- If you have yet to achieve that potential, what are your plans to pursue it? What is holding you back? Is it anxiety? Or something else?
I seem to be skating around the edge of a black hole, so depression is my anchor. Being able to communicate better would improve my life and hopefully increase the options available. I often feel that I have made poor decisions, in hindsight I see that I did not have any other choice. back for another loop of the vicious circle.

I'm alone all day in my house on internet or playing video games, so no I didn't achevied my potential.
Anyway, it must be low to begin with...

I feel I have not reached my potential yet.
But, I believe it will be possible someday.

at this point, i'd love to have the potential to do something well [to where somebody would PAY ME], even if it is more boring than all get out.