What if I don’t want to be great?

Even if I have the potential to be

For as long as I can remember, people have been telling me what I’m capable of.

I was told I could top my class, and that I had the potential to be a great lawyer. Lately, I’ve been hearing I’d be a wonderful mother so I should have a kid (this one gets under my skin!). Even as I dabble in Kalari, I hear encouragement, “You have it in you to be amazing if you stick with this!’

These words are kind. They’re affirming. They make me feel seen, capable, and powerful. And yes, it’s undeniably comforting to hear, “You have potential.” It feels good, like proof that you could excel if you chose to.

But there’s a quiet subtext to these compliments: Why are you wasting your potential?

Sometimes, these are not even subtexts. People have asked me or even told me what I should be doing because I have the potential. And I appreciate their interest in my “growth.”

But is realising our potential that important?

We live in a world obsessed with optimization and excellence in every sphere of life. Excellence is seen as the ultimate pursuit—whether in careers, relationships, or hobbies. The narrative says that if you’re capable of something, isn’t it wasteful not to pursue it?

But just because I can doesn’t mean I should, and more importantly, it doesn’t mean I want to.

Each one of us is capable of so many things, but can we—or should we—excel in all of them? And what good is excelling at something if it doesn’t bring joy or fulfilment?

Maybe not everyone is born to fulfil their potential. Maybe some of us are born to experience life instead of mastering it. To follow fleeting passions, embrace short-lived curiosities, and live with the freedom of saying, This is enough. I am enough.

At least, that’s my truth right now. I don’t want to live my life chasing potential. I want to live a life of wanting. I want to follow my heart, even when it’s fickle, even when it defies logic. I want to dabble, to explore, to let go of the need to be extraordinary.

There’s a quiet joy in doing things just for the love of it. In cooking because I want to, not to become a master chef. In writing for the joy of expression, not to win awards. In living a life that feels full, not one that looks impressive.

This isn’t to say that potential is bad or that those who pursue excellence are wrong. It’s just that it’s not the only right way.

So, here’s to the explorers, the wanderers, the ones who chose passion over potential. Here’s to living a life that feels like yours, not one dictated by what you could do but one guided by what you want to do.

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Little Joys

“Joy is always around if only we pause to acknowledge it.”

With life's burdens and big ambitions, it's easy to overlook our everyday joys. let’s take a moment to acknowledge the small joys from the last week. Here are mine -

• Made a big investment in my creator journey - got myself a new phone.

• Dressed up in a skirt and felt beautiful!

• Had an unbelievably delicious soul-warming cup of coffee.

  

• Caught up with an amazing friend.

• Enjoyed a brief connection with a beautiful soul.

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Stories from my journey

Learning Kalaripayattu in a quiet village in Kerala has been much more than about the skill. It has reset my lifestyle and I shared this story as a reel on my Instagram - A travel experience to reset your lifestyle.

It was a beautiful full moon this Monday and when a friend suggested that we do a few things to get in touch with the feminine energy, I was intrigued. I have been wanting to be more open to experiences and make curiosity a habit. This one felt like a good start and it ended giving clarity to my direction in this journey - Curiosity of the week - Feminine energy ✨

As I’m getting ready to leave this beautiful place, I had to write about the cute cafes that I slowly fell in love with in a town nearby - Falling in Love with Cafes in a Small Kerala Town.