Lives of quiet desperation

[Bellsandwhimples]

“Most men live lives of quiet desperation and go to the grave with the song still in them”.

Paraphrased and misattributed, but quite a true statement. I’m extending “men” to include women too.

So much untapped potential.

Or am AIBU - do most people fulfil their potential and go to the grave fully exhausted?

Very few human beings "fulfil their potential."

Some human beings fulfil their desires, or what they think they want.

They're two different things.

YABU @Bellsandwhimples but not for the reasons you laid out.

I agree with this, I think a lot of mental health problems are caused by an inability to express ourselves fully.

I don't know. It depends what you mean by potential. I think the expectation and drive to achieve some ideal of 'potential' is as likely to drive people to desperation as to save them from it. There is nothing wrong (and possibly much that's right) with a simple life. I have no particular desire to go to the grave fully exhausted.

If only we were given a full account of our potential at birth... Nobody knows what their full potential is. I generally live my life to avoid exhaustion at all costs and make sure I balance my life to include the things I want to do as well as the things I have to do. I very much hope I will go to my grave thinking I've had a big and beautiful life whether it happens tomorrow or in 50 years' time.

Yanbu

Are you thinking UK or worldwide here ?

I think you’re right that many/most people don’t reach their full potential - for example, I’ve done voluntary work for 40+ years, but only found the role that was the best fit for me around four years ago.

With hindsight, I’d have loved to be a BSL interpreter fo a living, but 1970’s Essex new town school careers advice was to work in a bank, a shop or insurance. By the time I realised BSL interpreter was a valid career choice, I was locked into my (admittedly decent) career in a bank and just couldn’t afford to start over.

I don’t necessarily agree about the desperation. I suspect most people are broadly happy with their lot - fewer now than 5-8 years ago, admittedly - rather than quietly desperate. But I do fear that more people are becoming desperate as the UK becomes a tougher place to have a decent standard of living.