Dangers of a Mind

I had a painful experience yesterday. Yesterday was the day that reality finally hit me in the face- hard. Just a few hours ago I had a good friend of mine, who I had lost contact with over the past few months, show up to our youth activity. High.
I can't tell you how many times I have seen him in this state, yet every time it happens I still feel the pang of sadness. I have known him for almost two years, and as that isn't a long time for me, I can still say without a doubt that he shouldn't be like this. He shouldn't be walking around like the living dead, only finding joy in a drug. The past few months have been like watching a sunset; the darkness of the world pulling every bit of light from him, until he is just left with an empty shell. Doesn't he know? He could be so much more than what he's looking at in the mirror, yet, he continually wakes up each morning, combs his hair, and then walks out his door hand-in-hand with the devil.
No one forced him to be like this, and it didn't happen all at once. It just took one temptation, one choice, and before you know it it's not enough.
Will it ever be?
Will he find what he's looking for at the end of his journey, or will he regret every exit he let pass by? I can't dream of telling you the answer to that, but what I can tell you is that he has no idea of the worth of his soul. He has no idea of the pain that it will cause his family when they find out, or the pain he is causing to himself by doing this. He has no idea of how precious his life is, and how delicate his situation can become. He could be great, he could be one of the best! Yet, he holds himself back... Constantly putting himself in a place where he tells himself 'he can't', that 'he's not good enough'.
No, he's good enough. I've seen it, maybe for a second, but I've seen it. I know there is not one person in this would that 'isn't good enough'. Each one of us has the ability of being at the top of our game, the only thing that stops us is our mind. It holds us back, makes us feel weak when we are strong. It is our prison, and until we learn to overcome it, it will act as such.

We can be great, so why aren't we?