The fabric of greatness is deceptive.
From the point of view of envious eyes, power, wealth, and glamour weave the desirable attention and comfort. But the ‘having’, however spectacular, is not memory worthy. The Greats that History remembers have gifted ideas, culture, monuments, laws or events that changed the shape of humanity. It is the doing that counts: the treading, dealing, conquering, overcoming, deciding, teaching.
A life well lived leaves a trail, it doesn't disappear when the body gives in. Rather, it contributes to a higher order of universal laws, fulfilling cosmic promises, seeding beauty and harmony, exemplifying love, excellence and courage.
Life is about becoming, making something magical of the cards we were dealt. With clarity over our circumstances, we grasp our uniqueness.
If we trust our distinctive traits are our gift to the world, we are ready to actualise our potential, and step into our power.
The temptation of instant gratification, the fearful fight for our piece of the pie, the longing for affection are low realities of the human condition. They keep us trapped in illusions of worth that won’t survive this lifetime, if this moment.
The long road, which won’t sacrifice fairness for comfort and love for fear, appears to be the dull choice, or the dumb one, but it takes us farther and higher, and although through effort and at times, sacrifice, it keeps us self-respecting and happy.
Resources, skills, knowledge, and titles are worth nothing until set in motion.
They are only assets in a plan that all requires actioning, tools and vehicles we choose to use to turn our assets into the means to an end.
Greatness has a lot to do with setting ourselves in motion, embracing the practicality of our position, activating what is available to us, making use of what augments, accelerates and forwards us.
Being concerned with credit and praise is the way to vainglory, not greatness. Even if the looks of it do meet our wishes, our pettiness will keep us dissatisfied, for we’ll know deep down, or just below the surface, that we’ve achieved nothing worthwhile.
When we look to the sky however, for higher, better, grander endeavours to give ourselves to, our deeds feel real, our gifts land somewhere, our purpose is served, and we offer something to look at.
Whether it is seen in wonder, inspiration or envy is the beholder’s problem.
Greatness is not the effective exercise of power. Arguably, real power never has to raise its voice or pose a threat. In fact, making use of such domineering tactics drains the power, turns it into a balance sheet, made of tradable points.
Genuine greatness has natural authority, it earns respect through wisdom, work, courage, fairness, talent, and … respect. Respectful people are respectable, aggressive people attract hostility. At the core of it all, greatness is safe ground for service and collaboration.
Greatness is not a state, or an achievement, it is an aura acquired for our gift to the world. Nothing we discover or dream is worth anything until it is created into the Whole, shared for others to experience and grow from.
What we create in our life time, whether in terms of models, achievements, or memories, is what the hallmark of greatness. It is not about big or small, not about good or evil, not about quality or quantity.
Greatness is about realisation, that we have made our specialness into something that touched another heart.
As micro parts of the creation, we essentially have no power, unless we tap into something wildly bigger than us.
When we put our effort towards channelling the flow, connecting to the source, trusting inspired thoughts and serendipities, we find ourselves carried, protected.
Our endeavours are not ours, we’ve only been tasked with divine work. The power granted to us is the proof and reward for this trust, evidence that our deeds belong to the spectacle of life.
Great Possession
Possession in great measure
Big domain
Noble presence