How do I stop feeling like I'm wasting my potential?

Feeling like you're wasting your potential is a form of Anxiety disorder that often stems from external pressure to achieve certain milestones or live up to others' expectations about what you should accomplish. This feeling typically develops when there's a disconnect between what you're actually doing with your life and what you or others believe you're capable of achieving. You might feel guilty about not pursuing certain opportunities, not using your talents in conventional ways, or not reaching the level of success that others predicted for you. Sometimes this feeling comes from being labeled as gifted, talented, or high-achieving early in life, creating pressure to constantly live up to that identity. The weight of others' expectations can make normal life choices feel like disappointments or failures to maximize your abilities. You might feel like you're letting down parents, teachers, or mentors who invested in your development or who had high hopes for your future. The concept of 'potential' itself can be problematic because it's often defined by external standards rather than your own values and interests. What others see as wasted potential might actually be you choosing a path that aligns with your authentic desires, even if it doesn't look impressive from the outside. You might value work-life balance, family time, creative fulfillment, or personal growth over traditional markers of success like high-paying careers or prestigious positions. Sometimes feeling like you're wasting potential reflects perfectionist tendencies that make you believe you should be optimizing every aspect of your life and constantly pushing toward greater achievements. This ignores the reality that fulfillment often comes from balance, Interpersonal relationship, and personal satisfaction rather than just professional accomplishment. It's also possible that you're in a period of exploration, rest, or preparation that doesn't look productive from the outside but is actually necessary for your long-term growth and well-being. Consider redefining potential in terms of your own values and what brings you finding meaning rather than external measures of success. Remember that there are many ways to live a fulfilling life, and that using your abilities in ways that align with your authentic self is more valuable than pursuing achievements that don't resonate with who you really are.