It/about

Question

Your potential is really up to you. It doesn't matter what others might think. It doesn't matter where you came from. It doesn't even matter what you might have believed about yourself at a previous time in your life. It's about what lies within you and whether you can bring it out.

I would like to know the meaning of "It" and "about" in the next sentence.
It's about what lies within you and whether you can bring it out.

Avangi · Accepted Answer

The discussion is about one's potential. It's possible to take the position that one's potential is "hidden captive" within him, and it's up to the individual to "release" it.

When you say, "X doesn't matter. Y doesn't matter. Z is what matters.", this may be phrased as, "It's not about X. It's not about Y. It's about Z."
I guess it's really a case of the "dummy it," similar to "It's not cold out, it's warm."

The important thing is not X or Y. The important thing is Z.

The example is not well constructed. You might guess that the real subject of discussion is "achieving success." "Your potential is really up to you" is a dumb thing to say. It's like saying "Your potential is up to your potential, and bringing it out."
It's like saying to someone who's entering an auto race, "Your car is really up to you. The important thing is how good your car is, and whether or not you can bring out its best performance."

It/about

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