Am I Living Into My Potential—Or Just Chasing “Best”?

Lately, I’ve been thinking about potential.

Not in a big, abstract way—but in a very real, everyday question:

Am I actually living into mine?

For most of my life, I’ve been a striver. 

As a kid: the best gymnast, the best student, the best daughter. 

As an adult: the best partner, the best coach, even the best fiddler.

And somewhere along the way, I quietly decided:

Potential = being the best.

But… is that actually true?

When I looked up the definition of potential, the word best wasn’t anywhere to be found. Instead, it said:

“Latent ability, possibility, or capacity for growth and development—something that exists

now but hasn’t yet been realized.”

That stopped me. Because latent possibility feels very different than being the best. 

It feels open. Expansive. Even a little relieving.

And for the first time, I could honestly say:

Yes—I am living into my potential.

Not because I’m the best at everything, but because I’m trying new things. Paying attention to what fits. Following what makes me feel more alive, more whole.

But let’s be real—there have also been seasons where that felt completely out of reach.

Times when I was so depleted that even basic care felt like too much. Times when getting enough sleep felt like a luxury I didn’t “deserve.” Times when fear—or just old habits—kept me stuck in place.

If that’s where you are right now, you’re not alone.

And it raises an important question: 

What actually gets in the way of our potential?

For me, a big part of it was that equation: 

Potential = Best

Because “best” comes with pressure. And pressure, to your nervous system, can feel like a threat.

Your body doesn’t always know the difference between:

• trying something new

• and being chased by a bear

So instead of growth, you get protection: fight, flight, freeze, or fawn.

That’s often what resistance really is— your mind pushing forward, and your body pulling back.

So what do you do with that?

Start here:

• Offer yourself compassion (not more pressure)

• Make the next step smaller than you think it “should” be

Because potential isn’t unlocked through force. It’s built through safety, awareness, and small, aligned steps forward.

And if you’re reading this thinking, “I know I’m capable of more—but I can’t seem to access it…”

That’s exactly the kind of work I do.

Together, we look at:

• What you’ve been taught potential “should” look like

• Where fear or habit is keeping you stuck

• And how to move forward in a way that actually works for your mind and your body

You don’t need to become the best version of yourself. 

You need to become a version of yourself that feels real, supported, and fully alive.

If that’s something you’re ready for, let’s start with a conversation.