We all have extremes in our personalities. They may not be the same amount as other people’s extremes but they are still extremes for us. Some may think treating themselves is having an extra chocolate bar or another glass of wine while others will go on six hour benders of booze and dancing. They’re extreme for the individual but widely different from individual to individual.
Recognizing these extremes within ourselves will help us understand our capabilities. Which in turn helps us get into the necessary mindsets for the problems or tasks we mind find ourselves encountering.
There are some extremes that we need to leverage in order for us to make it through tough situations and motivate us to take on new challenges. One of these extremes is the reminder that we can be horribly dangerous individuals. Taking the idea that we are dangerous can help us shift our view of the situation.
The best example of this switch is in a scene form the movie Watchmen. One of the characters has ended up on prison and shouts in the food court as he’s hauled away “I’m not stuck in here with you. You’re stuck in here with me!”
Information, knowledge, and skills are the tools we use everyday. We can use them for good, evil, and just things that need doing. Realizing the full potential of those tools allows a better opportunity for us to achieve our full potential.
Sometimes we have to slip into the mindset of a tireless force of nature. something so powerful that the greatest obstacles are circumvented or destroyed out of sheer force. We are sometimes called to go above and beyond our normal efforts or comfort zones in order to improve ourselves and achieve our goal.
But we can’t do that unless we know our full potential exists. Look at yourself and find out as much as you can. Likes, dislikes, and what you’re good at. They all matter when you’re trying to optimize yourself. They will also help you find things you need to work on and improve.
It’s very much like building a character in a table top game. I’m going to be playing in a campaign for a game called Shadowrun. A cyberpunk style adventure game, there are no real classes like D&D, but there are specializations or jobs the players can be. Going off what I had been doing in two of my D&D games I decided to opt in for being the party’s Face.
I know all the people who are going to be playing and most of them are good role players. But they are not necessarily the ones who are going to initiate conversations and broker deals. One of the players in my games that is rather good with this is actually going to be running the game, so we’re in a bit of a difficult situation. In one of my other games, I’m the diplomat. I’m pretty good at it too, so I’m going to be playing to my advantages.
I built my character to be very good at being a Face but literally average in every other respect. He’s there specifically for who he knows and his way with people. He can use this to get what he and his team wants by working his contacts, getting referrals, brokering deals.
You can do something similar by applying your skills to the fullest or in an entirely new way.
Think about it.
Sincerely,
The Irreverent Gentleman
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