YOURSELF UNLIMITED

[CROWN COUNCIL]

It would be easy to believe what the psychologists tell us about what we think our limitations are. We seem to recognize easily and early that we don’t have the skills and talents in the same quantity as some around us. With this in mind we tend to go along with that frame of mind without making a conscious effort to change and improve our capabilities. But the reality is that increasing our capabilities is possible and important.

The reason we may not increase is that we don’t consciously try. So it is easy to believe there is no improvement if there is no effort made to change. The proof of the potential for change can easily be illustrated by these two examples: Often in the military a new challenging assignment is given to the person with seniority even if someone else is available who has the most talent and experience. The new appointee is then challenged to learn and extend himself to rise to the challenge. In so doing he/she increases significantly in talent and ability.

Another example occurs in the school system. Those who are skilled teachers but have no management experience are appointed to be principals where management skills are essential. With the challenge before them, they extend themselves and become managers which they otherwise would not have thought they had skill to be.

Going forth into unchartered areas happens very frequently in the National Legislature where seniority most often determines who receives opportunity to supervise vital government departments and services. Again the moving forward enables legislators to develop skills they didn’t know they had.

So to discover and enlarge yourself, just take one activity after another and think about it in a new and unusual way. Start with dressing and undressing and see if this could be done in a more efficient fashion. Next you might read a part of the newspaper that you constantly ignore. Read the financial page and underline and then study all of the terms that are unfamiliar. Take nothing for granted in terms of routine. Investigate, navigate and educate yourself. You may be amazed to discover your interests and capabilities. You may just discover yourself unlimited.

Gregory B. Anderson–director.