Late Blooming, Right Timing, & Autonomy
Wednesday Wisdoms for May 21, 2025
Mind Candy is a newsletter on practical philosophy and human flourishment—aka how to live “the good life.” Each month we tackle a new theme.
This month we’re exploring the theme of Potential.
Welcome to Wednesday Wisdom, our 3x3 Newsletter where I distill worldly advice for better living with 3 quotes, 3 observations, and 3 questions.
Late Blooming
🤨 Quote
“Mastery requires patience.”
James Clear
Source: Atomic Habits
Observation 🧐
We quit before we give ourselves a chance.
Most of us assume that if we can’t do something quickly, if we’re not recognized for success early on, then we should just stop trying.
The world is littered with the myth that in order to be successful, we must achieve it early. The media tells us that we need to be under 30 and heavily promotes lists such as the 30 Under 30. Schools tells us we need to know what we want to do with our lives by the time we apply to college. And the workforce then tells us we need to have a specific skill by the time we graduate college.
But none of this is the reality of life. The idea of finding success before 30 is not the standard, it’s the outlier.
Being a “late bloomer” brings with it experience, wisdom, and mastery.
If we want success, we need not just work hard, we need to do it for extended periods of time.
Rushing will not bring mastery, only time will.
Lots and lots of time and dedication.
This is how we truly uncover our potential.
🤔 Question
If you study some of the greatest individuals of all time, you’ll see their potential took years if not decades to uncover. So why do you feel the need to rush?
Right Timing
🤨 Quote
“While we are postponing, life speeds by.”
Seneca
Source: Letters on Ethics
Observation 🧐
But it’s not the right time we tell ourselves. The stars don’t align.
And they rarely ever will.
This is the biggest roadblock to uncovering potential. It’s not about having everything ready, or being prepared. It’s about recognizing our own limiting beliefs.
While we drag our feet delaying because we claim it’s not the right time, the world keeps spinning, others keep working, no one stops for us to get prepared and have everything aligned.
Life is a treadmill that requires we jump on and start running.
Finding our potential is about running, regardless of whether things are aligned.
There is no right time. The right time is now. The best time to plant a tree was years ago, the second best time is today.
Get those roots in the proper soil and start building conditions to grow to your potential.
🤔 Question
What did you do today to move yourself closer to discovering your true potential?
Beneath the paywall this week we explore the wisdom of Stephen M. Fleming. Click below to support and get access.