Ignorance. Stupidity. Illiteracy.
These were many of the
stigmatizing traits and labels
that groomed my childhood
and taunted my turbulent
adolescence. That is, until
I learned to differentiate
“smarts” from “intelligence.”
Though I was not regarded
as the smartest person in the
room, I’d often get a nod from
the wisest leaders in the room.
Why? Because despite the
disparaging traits that sought
to blind me from envisioning
my own potential, God was
already blessing me with an
ingenious way of thinking. My
intelligence did not stem from
academia.
had to offer and to fulfill all
that I knew I was capable of
achieving. It wasn’t until my
born-again experience that I
was able to attain the missing
piece to my complex puzzle
of self discovery—that part of
me that remained invisible to
outsiders. The question then
became, How do I tap into
the untapped potential—
my unexploited possibilities.
Potential is equivalent to
approaching a coal mine
for coal and discovering
unexpected surprises—gold,
diamonds, salt, rubber,
copper, etc. We are called to
mine our minds continually,
and my mind reminds me of
the innumerable resources
Potential is the unrealized
available deep within the mine
existence of your capabilities.
of my unexplored existence.
The word potential for me
So, if you feel deep within that
translates as innumerable
your potential is still hiding
possibilities—possible, as
opposed to actual, unfounded undiscovered beyond the dark
facts, the capacity to become corridors of dormancy within
the mind, now is the time for
what I see in myself that no
self-discovery. How do you
one else sees. Growing up
tap into your undiscovered
in the ghetto as a recipient
possibilities and become the
of programs such as W.I.C.,
best you that your potential will
Food Stamps, and Section 8
allow?
housing, along with being a
dope feign and a prisoner,
Five Ways to Tap Into Your
no one knew what I felt
Potential:
deep down on the inside—
1.Avoid Procrastination.
an indescribable longing to
Procrastination is a dream
conquer more of what life
killer, but it is so cunning that
Solutions 49