Personal Capacity

As I am sure you have too, I have heard people talk about investing in one’s self as “filling up my cup.” They “pour” into themselves through growth, learning and education along with new experiences and challenges. And of course, with a full cup, one has more to pour out into others.

While I certainly agree with the idea of investing in one’s self, I have an issue with that analogy: a cup has a fixed capacity. Humans do not. Not only can we be filled beyond our current volume of skills, talents, service, etc., we can also increase our capacity for that volume.

I guess what I am saying is this: rather than thinking about your potential as a cup, think about it more like a water balloon. As you fill the balloon, it starts to stretch, and the capacity for additional water increases. However, as the balloon stretches, tension also starts to build. There are internal forces which, as the balloon expands, work to prevent that expansion. Your life is no different. As you begin to increase your capacity, you will feel the resistance as the internal tension mounts and strives to maintain your current volume. This is not a sign you cannot grow; it is a reminder you must be stretched.

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Mindset Matters

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