Living up to your unique potential
A commentary from the Torah:
The idea of destiny is the third concept that lies between free will and determinism. Destiny neither controls or ignores us. Rather, it invites us to live a life beyond the narrow concept of self-interest. We can live our lives doing what we do, never reflecting on any larger whole in which we might be participating. But if the veil were lifted, our lives would be imbued with meaning and dignity. We are not coerced or tricked into reflecting on our destiny, rather, we are invited. And with this invitation comes the possibility of moving from an “accidental” life to one that is in harmony with the goodness of the original creation. If we live up to our unique potential, with the implication that we are at our personal best, we can have an important impact that reaches beyond the individual.
Too often we shy away from the challenges of trying to appreciate, embrace, and redeem our intrinsic human uniqueness because we may not know how or we fear failure. Instead, we often attempt to mimic what others are doing. While this imitation may be a source of flattery it is not a path to personal truth and realization. Marianne Williamson wrote “Our greatest fear is not that we are inadequate, but that we are powerful beyond measure.” The greatest heroes in history have been those people who, in their willingness to follow their own instinct and thoughts, fulfilled their distinctive potential and thereby contributed to a world beyond themselves. Their destiny was not fated, rather it was a by-product of their search for self-truth.