Reaching for a Higher Potential – Falling Forward
When you're in the process of becoming a higher version of yourself, it feels both exhilarating and daunting. You can envision your next level—you catch glimpses of it—but the path isn't linear, as we're often led to believe. Instead, it might involve what seems like a "step down" or a detour.
And now you're contemplating: Does this make sense? If I'm progressing, why would it feel like I'm moving backward? But your heart—or inner knowing—sees the possibility of that higher version of you and doesn't care about appearances. Day after day, you weigh these two options.
This article offers a perspective to help you see that this step back is, in fact, not a step back at all. By the time you finish reading, I hope you'll feel confident about your next step.
A Visual Journey
Let me illustrate this concept with a diagram. We'll map out the journey of moving from your current potential state to a higher one.
[Diagram 1: Each wave represents your journey through potential states, showing how what feels like a fall is part of the natural progression upward.]
Diagram 1
Setting the Stage
Refer to diagram 1. Your current potential—the life you're living right now—is Potential State 1 (P1). Let's say you know you're capable of more and want to move toward a higher potential. These higher states can be labeled P2, P3, and so on, with your highest potential currently being P7.
When you attempt to leap from P1 to P2, you might fall—and land at P0. This is the space that feels like a step down in your life, a place where things seem to crumble.
Diagram 2
The Power of Perspective
The Fall is Forward What looks like a fall is not truly a fall. Look at the second diagram where you can see a straight line drawn across the states. Notice something fascinating: P0 is actually closer to P7 than P1 ever was. What appears to be a step down has actually brought you closer to the version of yourself you're aspiring to become. The straight line reveals this hidden truth - every "fall" is a strategic repositioning that places you nearer to your goal.
Lightening the Load When you begin climbing to P2, you realize the journey is easier because you've shed unnecessary baggage. If you'd brought along everything from your current reality, the climb would've been impossible—too heavy to bear. What felt like loss—letting go of certain habits, people, or circumstances—was actually preparation. It's what allows you to rise.
Mastering the Journey Here's the hidden treasure: once you complete the journey from P1 to P2, you gain something invaluable—experience. The first fall and rise teach you the terrain of transformation. The next time you aim higher, you'll know what to expect. With practice, you can leap from P4 to P7 without falling at all. Each repetition makes you more surefooted, and before you know it, what once felt daunting becomes second nature.
A Fall is Always Forward
Remember those two options you were weighing at the beginning? Now you can see them differently. What feels like stepping backward is actually positioning you closer to your dream version of yourself.
Wherever you are in your journey, know that the path itself is reshaping you into someone capable of reaching any potential state you're moving toward. Your next step, even if it feels like a fall, is actually a step forward.And that's the most beautiful thing about moving toward a higher version of yourself – every movement in your journey of growth is always forward, never backward; even if your human self perceives it as a step-down!
This is Part 1 of The Potential States Series. Join me next time as we explore what lies beyond P7, where the journey takes an unexpected turn and possibilities become limitless.
