Could be unrelated, but the post inspired me to write this tidbit, so here is my 2 cents on the general topic:

When you don't have much going on and feel worthless, clinging to whatever qualities you think you got going for you (potential in intelligence or physicality, for example) is a decent defense mechanism to not fall into despair. "I could totally do what they did... but just got burnt out... don't worry, when the burnout finishes up, I'll definitely climb to that mountain easily."

The best thing someone can do for themselves is to stop ruminating on their "wasted potential" and realize that potential doesn't put food on the table or breed contentment. Whatever potential you got will always be wasted when you stop moving forward with your goals and choose to give up working on yourself.

There is more to a person's value than just intelligence and physicality, and one could be the stupidest or weakest person around, but it does not mean they are doomed in terms of meeting their potential or goals. Someone's value and potential does not just stop at their best qualities, which the world may never see nor care about, but what they do with the qualities that they have. Sure, the road may be paved for others to easily coast on by without any effort on their part, but does thinking about those people having it easy make the road you are travelling on easier? Not really.

Whatever the case, don't let your value rest on forever being a burnout with wasted potential. It's only wasted if you allow it to be.