10 Times Yourself: How to Live at Full Potential

In sonnet 6, “ten times yourself” Shakespeare writes about being “10 times yourself”. What great wisdom I thought. It was Earl Nightingale who said, in his Gold Record The strangest Secret that “Universities have discovered that most people use only 10 percent of their potential. If that is true, and I believe it is, then most of us have enough room to become 10 times ourselves. But how? You may ask.

The answer lies in the usage of our mind. That marvellous storehouse that fills your cup to overflowing if you utilise it. Strangely though mankind has made a miserable job of utilising this great resource. The question is why is it that most people do not make better use of their mind? Earl Nightingale says that the reason is because the mind is free, you do not buy it. Earl further asserts that the most important things in life are the things we get free, like the brain and, he says, Familiarity breeds contempt.

So how do you become ten times yourself? Shakespeare’s primary focus on this sonnet is to urge young people to get married and in the process of recreation, you would actually be regenerating more of yourself, which is a sure way to become ten times yourself. But looking at the same sonnet (the beauty of art lies in its diversity {of interpretation}) we can just do that by living our lives to the full, utilising our body, mind and spirit as efficiently as possible. Steps to become ten times yourself

1. Move your goal posts. Experts have concluded that bigger goals bring forth more and more from the goal setter who is serious about success and willing to go the extra mile. It is recommended that you multiply your goals by ten and go for them – that’s 10 times your self, right?

2. Believe, and always remind yourself that the human mind has limitless potential and resolve to get more and more from your mind.

3. Make conscious efforts towards the better utilisation of your brain. “If you have all the wealth in this world and use but a nickel you would have been doing what you probably are doing with your mind now”. So realise the great resource that is your brain and tap into it.

Re-read the above steps and make a commitment to become 10 times yourself. For Shakespeare says ten times thy self were happier than thou art. Always remember: the sky’s the limit!

Momodou Sabally is a motivational speaker and author. He has developed a series of articles on Self-Motivation, available at his website WWW.MLSABALLY.COM.