Students—Tips for Realising Your Fullest Potential!

Hey students … did you know that your potential is limitless? Everything you desire is achievable—believe that! Many people dream of achieving big things and they thrive in their pursuit, despite others around them doubting their abilities. There’s no reason to think that you can’t do the same.

But, do you occasionally fail at the goals you set your mind to achieving? Do other things sometimes get in the way of your achievements in university? The answer is pretty clear … there are many hindrances that block us from realising our fullest potential. But this doesn’t mean that we can’t do anything about it! In this post, I explore five of these hindrances and suggest how you can overcome them.

1.         Quitting Prematurely

This will sound like a tired cliché, but believe me: Rome wasn’t built in a day. Realising your fullest potential means pushing yourself to the limit—sometimes beyond your personal limits—until whatever you put your mind to is achieved. Of course, quitting is sometimes easier than persisting—particularly when there are too many naysayers in the way, your grades may not stack up to be where you want them or you’re having trouble learning a concept or idea. Sometimes, you will suffer setbacks that are too painful to fathom and too deep to recover from but, if you are to succeed, the last thing you should do is quit. If you persevere, it will ultimately make you stronger, and you will be thankful for the hardships in the end.

2.         Losing Sight of the Endgame

When you set your endgame, you need to focus entirely on it. Everyone’s endgames are different—some people have long-term goals; others have short-term goals. They could be achieving a particular grade for a certain class or simply completing university. All you need to do is ensure that you don’t let everyday distractions deter your vision; the bigger picture must be at the front of your mind so that every small step you make orients you in its direction. Sometimes, you will need to make sacrifices to see the bigger picture, but it’s worth it. And if you are struggling on your own, remember that there are always people at university who can assist you. If necessary, take advice from those who can help you remain on the right path and achieve your desired results faster.

3.         Lack of Proper Planning

If you are living life without a plan, then you will be easily disrupted. People around you will be taking advantage of you left, right and centre if you don’t show them how committed you are to your course. If you have a five-year goal, for example, you need to plan what you will do every day, week, month and year to reach it. Create a checklist and use it as a guide for what to do every day. And, while you’re at it, remember that the key to accomplishing many tasks is incorporating your free time into your schedule, no matter how tight it could be. Don’t miss dinner with your family or your morning gym sessions just to study. If you maintain a good study–life balance while you are at university, it will prepare you for a good work–life balance in the future.

4.         Limiting Yourself to Ordinary Things

Your potential is limitless and so are your opportunities. Remember that all the great innovations you see around you were once considered extraordinary, probably impossible, goals. To start realising your true potential, you must start noticing both ordinary and extraordinary opportunities—but keep in mind that you may need to develop a thick skin to handle all the challenges that you encounter in your life. It can be easy to lose your passion while at university, as you may feel like your life is not progressing while you are studying. Don’t forget that life-changing opportunities do exist while you are still at university! There are many ways to advance your career, even while you are studying. Whatever you are visualising in your mind, no matter how huge, is realisable if you work towards it—don’t limit your chances of realising your fullest potential while at university. Embrace your opportunities and strive to meet your goals.

5.         Negativity

Sometimes, your enemy is within you. If you only entertain negative thoughts in your mind, then you will never move forward. You should always cultivate a positive and optimistic attitude to reach your fullest potential. Tell yourself that it is possible, even when everything points to the impossibilities. Set a firm limit for interacting with people who may enforce negativity, before you become consumed with a negative attitude. The bottom line: you are your own motivator and reinforcement. Believe in your abilities and cheer yourself on, no matter the circumstances.

All in all, realising your fullest potential is definitely not an easy task to achieve. If you can’t do it on your own, don’t hate yourself for it. As you go through university, you are bound to find many other students who are in exactly the same boat as you. Life is a journey, and, for many, university is the first step to achieving long-term goals. To truly succeed, you must take the necessary steps to realise your true potential and tackle life head-on.