What it is
A squanderer of human potential is someone who has the intelligence or capacity and wastes it, through comfort, fear or habit. It’s different from ignorance. Ignorance can be taught. Squandering can only be witnessed, until the person decides to stop.
It’s a harsh category, and it’s most useful pointed inward.
How it shows up for me
I’ve been one. Years of doing just enough when I knew I could do more. Watching it in others still frustrates me, but I’ve learned I can’t argue anyone out of it. I can only live the other way where they can see it.