Infinite Potential

I was at prescott college when I started thinking about how to define human potential and to create a practical program for self improvement.

I've heard it often said that our potential is infinite, and unlimited. Motivational and inspirational speakers say this kind of thing. On an emotional level, it is very powerful to hear this and think this way. On the logical side, I can think of millions of cases where this is obviously untrue. I can fly if I buy a plane ticket, but I'm not going to sprout wings like an angel by snapping my fingers and believing in my infinite potential. So infinite potential is hyperbole really.

But the emotional impact of freeing your thinking can help us to do what we previously thought was impossible. And a lot of what we take to be reality is in fact just our idea of reality. So the idea of infinite potential has some value if it is emotionally inspiring and helps us to break out of mentally constructions of limitation.

Well if we redefine what we mean by infinite, maybe there is some hope for infinity. Many "mind power" books have the idea that we live and perceive the finite, or manifest world or reality, but there is another, infinite side of reality that is unmanifest. And that unmanifest aspect of reality is accessible to all of us. And some books say it is accessible through our subconscious mind. And by getting in touch with the infinite, we can become co-creators of reality, and guide our own destiny.

Others describe the infinite as that part of us that is connected with God or infinite mind or Being. When we join spiritually with that, we can experience the infinite aspect of reality.

While infinite potential is partly hyperbole, it is on the one hand an emotional compass that can help people to break free of mental limitation; and as a spiritual concept, can also lead to a deeper understanding of reality. So the idea of infinite potential has practical benefits.