Limitless: How To Live Life At 100%
People once thought that we only used 10% of our brains. This inspired many stories of what humans could be if we were able to use the other 90% (think John Travolta in Phenomenon, Scarlett Johansson in Lucy, or Bradley Cooper in Limitless). Modern science has shown us that we do, in fact, use 100% of our brains, but do we really use all the potential we were born with? Even if, intellectually, we are giving it our all, how far can we go if we are not inspired in our heart or driven by our will? What new levels could we reach if we gave everything our 100%?
What does it even mean to give it our 100%? Is it the fact that we checked everything off our to-do list? Or is it more—a lifestyle, a frame of mind, who we are? Living at 100% capacity may very well require us to hold on to our center, embrace change and dare to do more, every single day. Have you ever examined your heart and found something that can jump-start you to making every day’s endeavors a step toward limitless possibilities? If not, try this simple three-step process and see where it takes you.
1. Figure Out Where You’re Coming From to Decide Where You’re Going
Motivation is key. Rick Warren, author of A Purpose Drive Life, gave a TEDtalk in which he talked about his struggle with his success. Wait… how can one possibly struggle with success? Well, Rick began doubting what success was worth, until he found the answer in the first line of his book: “It’s not about you.” In his perspective, each person is born with a God-given purpose, the source of who we are and what we are capable of, a potential that can someday serve the world.
What motivates you, beyond your immediate wants and needs? We often try to force an understanding of our purpose, but when we relax and tune in to our innermost self, we can find that we knew it all along. Set aside time to listen to your own internal chatter. Turn off the busy or discouraging thoughts until you’ve found the voices that ring true. What are they saying?
2. Tap into Your Tool Kit
We often hear that we already have everything we need to get where we want to go. Do you agree? Think of your own wishes and dreams and how some creative thinking might let you tap into your “tool kit”. Some of us excel in maths and sciences. Others might have acute talent for fine arts or language. For others yet, our passion for something might go beyond our actual talent. Whatever the case, we may see all these talents and passions as a hint into our higher purpose, or the unique part of us that represents a part of God.
Father Moon often quoted 1 Corinthians 3:16, “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?” and taught that “God created human beings as His substantial bodies.” Unification Thought teaches that God cannot be on Earth physically, and chose to create His and Her presence on Earth through us.
So what’s your inherent potential? What’s that spark that makes you, you? It may take a little searching and some guidance, but our potential is already within reach. Make the choice to think of what you can do instead of why it might not work. If there is a person you admire and consider accomplished, try reading their biography or finding their story on the internet. Learning from the experience of others can help to show you how your own dreams are very much within your reach.
3. Go For It
Can you imagine what the world would be like if each of us chose to fully represent God in our life? Creativity, positive change and innovation would be coming from all angles like a tapestry of bright colors. What do you think that kind of world would look like?
Unfortunately, all too often it’s that first step that stops us, and we never push beyond dreaming. But what if a small, baby step was all it took to get us tumbling along? What if, instead of “why”, we started asking ourselves, “why not?” Why not do some research, start practicing, or reach out to those that can assist us? The best way to reaching that 100% is to start today! A fraction of a percent at a time.
What do you see when you imagine yourself accomplishing your dreams or using your talents to the fullest? What do you see when you imagine yourself as you would love to be?