Addicted to Potential? Here's Why You're Still Stuck.

Have you ever stayed in a relationship long after your heart knew it was over?

Stayed in a job that drained your soul because maybe the next promotion would finally make it worth it? Held onto a dream without ever actually doing anything about it?

If so, welcome to the club.

On this week's episode of Breakthrough with Mallory & Julie, we tackled a phrase that made both of us stop in our tracks:

Are you addicted to potential?

At first, it sounds strange. Addicted to potential? Isn't potential a good thing?

Absolutely...until it becomes the reason you stop taking action.

Potential is exciting because it asks nothing of us. It lets us imagine a better future without requiring us to make difficult decisions today.

We convince ourselves:

"Maybe they'll change." "Maybe this job will get better." "Maybe next year I'll finally start that business." "Maybe someday..."

And suddenly years have gone by.

The truth is, we aren't living in reality anymore—we're living in possibility.

And possibility can become a very comfortable prison.

Remember this:

"Hope is not a strategy. Action is."

Ouch. But it's true.

Hope is beautiful. We all need hope. Hope gets us through difficult seasons.

Hope just isn't enough by itself. If nothing changes...nothing changes.

Me and my baby sister!

One of the stories I shared in the episode was about growing up hearing teachers tell me I had "so much potential."

If you've ever heard those words, you probably know exactly how they feel.

They're meant to be encouraging. But for me, they became terrifying. Because if I ever actually tried...what if they were wrong?

As long as I never truly tested myself, I could always hide behind potential. I could tell myself I could succeed if I really wanted to. Potential became my safety net. It also became my excuse.

I see this happen all the time—not just in school, but in careers, leadership, relationships, and even businesses.

People don't fail because they lack talent.

They fail because they never move beyond possibility. Potential is comfortable. Action is uncomfortable. Growth always lives on the uncomfortable side. The same thing happens in relationships.

Maybe you've stayed because you remember how good things used to be.

Maybe you keep hoping they'll become the person they were in the beginning.

Maybe everyone around you sees the truth...except you.

You're not in love with who they are today. You're in love with who they could become.

There's a huge difference. The same thing happens at work. I can't tell you how many people I've met after speaking at conferences who quietly tell me they hate their job.

They're exhausted. Undervalued. Burned out. Miserable. But they stay. Why?

Because what if the next boss is worse? What if they can't find another job? What if they fail? So they trade temporary discomfort for permanent dissatisfaction.

That's an expensive trade.

One Thing We Didn't Cover in the Podcast Episode

There's actually a psychological principle that explains why this happens.

It's called the sunk cost fallacy.

Simply put, we stay committed to something because we've already invested so much time, money, energy, or emotion into it. "I've already been here five years." "I've already dated him for three years." "I've already invested everything into this business." The more we invest...the harder it becomes to walk away.

But here's the problem:

Your past investment should never dictate your future. The only question that really matters is this:

If you weren't already here...would you choose this today?

If the answer is no... That deserves your attention.

Three Things You Can Do Right Now

1. Stop Falling in Love with Potential

Potential is wonderful.

But potential without action is just wishful thinking.

Ask yourself:

• Is this person actually changing?

• Is this company actually improving?

• Am I actually taking steps toward my goal?

• Or am I simply hoping things magically get better?

Hope isn't the plan. Action is.

2. Ask Yourself the Hard Question

One exercise we talked about on the podcast is identifying your real fear.

Don't stop at:

"I'm afraid to quit."

Ask yourself:

Why?

Keep digging.

What are you actually afraid of?

Losing money?

Looking foolish?

Being alone?

Starting over?

Once you identify the real fear, create a Plan B.

One of my favorite coaching questions is:

"If the worst happened...what would you do next?"

Most of the time, you'll realize something powerful:

You'd figure it out.

Just like you've figured out every other challenge life has thrown your way.

3. Listen to the Full Episode

This conversation was one of our favorites because it isn't just about careers or relationships.

It's about taking back ownership of your life.

Mallory and I share stories about staying too long, chasing potential, overcoming fear, leadership, parenting, and why action—not hope—is what ultimately creates a breakthrough.

If you've ever felt stuck...

If you've ever waited for "someday"...

If you've ever wondered whether you're settling for potential instead of living with purpose...

This episode is for you.

🎙️ Listen to "You're Addicted to Potential (And It's Keeping You Stuck)" on Breakthrough with Mallory & Julie. Then share it with someone who's been waiting for life to change instead of taking the first step.

Because your future isn't built on what could happen.

It's built on what you decide to do today.