Most people live, whether physically, intellectually or morally, in a very restricted circle of their potential being. They make use of a very small portion of their possible consciousness, and of their soul's resources in general, much like a man who, out of his whole bodily organism, should get into a habit of using and moving only his little finger. Great emergencies and crises show us how much greater our vital resources are than we had supposed.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- People limit themselves to a narrow use of their abilities, like using only a finger, but crises reveal they have far greater capacity.
- In plain terms
- We often use only a tiny part of our potential, and emergencies show we can do much more.
- What can you take from it?
- Push beyond comfort zones to discover hidden strengths.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What habits keep you in a small circle of potential?
- How can you safely expand your capacities?
Another view
Not all crises lead to growth; some can overwhelm and cause burnout.
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