What do I do when I feel like I'm not living up to my potential?

Feeling like you're not living up to your potential is a heavy burden that can make every day feel like evidence of your failure to become who you're supposed to be. This feeling often stems from having high expectations for yourself, comparing your current reality to an idealized version of what your life could be, or receiving messages from others about what you should be achieving. You might feel like you're wasting your talents, not working hard enough, or that others who are less capable than you are achieving more success. Sometimes this feeling develops from identity/perfectionism-how-to-let-go" class="internal-link">perfectionism that makes any achievement feel insufficient because you can always imagine doing better. The concept of 'potential' is actually quite subjective and often based on external measures of success that might not align with your values or circumstances. Consider whether your definition of living up to your potential is actually your own or something imposed by family, society, or cultural expectations. Everyone faces different obstacles, opportunities, and life circumstances that affect what they're able to achieve. Some people have advantages like family support, financial resources, or fewer personal challenges that make certain achievements easier. Focus on progress rather than perfection, and remember that personal growth happens in seasons - sometimes you're in a period of learning, healing process, or building foundations rather than visible achievement. Define success according to your own values rather than external measures, and consider that living up to your potential might mean being kind, present, or resilient rather than just professionally successful.