Capacity - Part 1

Over the last 12 months I have become more and more intrigued by the notion of "Capacity."  Capacity is defined as:
1. the maximum amount that something can contain.
2. the amount something can produce. 
Synonyms for capacity include; quantity, size, scope, proportions, competence and spread. 
My favourites though are these:
Burden
Potentiality
Holding Ability
Holding Power
Reach
 

So, if you have a look at the definition and synonyms it is very clear that capacity encompasses BOTH the ability to take ON/IN something, as well as sending/giving OUT something. Or another way of looking at it in human terms is, the ability to GIVE and RECEIVE. And just like that capacity is suddenly a very interesting little word!
 

When there are two opposing sides to a word, how do we measure capacity?  Or more importantly how do we measure our own capacity? And why is our own capacity so vital?

To put it simply, our capacity will ultimately define our ability to lead a full and abundant life - TRUTH!
 

Our capacity affects our ability (or inability) to learn, to teach, to love, to "do," to help, to share, to be happy, to cope, to be resourceful, to reach our full potential!  And the great news is that we all have the ability to grow our capacity - it just depends on whether or not you want to!
 

It would be really easy at this point to start looking at other people for comparison as we all know people who are better at giving than receiving or those who just seem to receive way more; people who are constantly on the move, thriving & just generally rocking life or those who seem permanently exhausted by it; and people for whom selflessness takes precedence over selfishness or those whose entire focus is always on themselves.  But comparison in itself is a whole other concept...and blog!
 

So what determines a person's capacity - well, there are hundreds, if not thousands of things that might, some of which we have control over and some of which we may not.  However, in order to grow our capability we need to recognise that we can, and need to, consciously put aside those things which limit our capacity's growth, or to at least look at them in a different way. It also involves us determining our ability to put aside the things we might rather be doing in order to do something that might be less appealing but far more important in ways we cannot yet even grasp.
 

I’m not suggesting for a moment that we don’t pause to take time for ourselves (as this is a vital self-care) but the moment we think we are self-entitled then that is a different story.  We all walk through seasons where self-love and care is of utmost importance however if we find ourselves repeating the same story, the same history, time and time again then that should be a huge clue to us that we need to grow our capacity and make room/space for a new future & new story.

Part 2 coming next week.