Some people are born with natural talent. Others must work day in and day out to attain theirs. But, no matter from which angle you look at it, you can’t be great at everything you do. However, you can absolutely bring greatness into your life. This leaves us with two questions: What is greatness? How can greatness be achieved?
From a young age, I was quite ambitious. My parents did the best they could with what they had, but I always strived for something more. I desired fame, glory and success.
So, it was quite the reality check when I discovered that I couldn't simply walk into a company and snatch an executive’s job. At least I had an imagination.
My second reality check happened when I saw my colleagues, some of whom couldn’t hold an intellectual conversation, triple my income. With that, I decided to enslave myself to my work… Boom! For a whole week, I did better than 97 percent of the company.
And then, the next week, I was back to average. It made me realize that there are some things in life (from jobs to relationships) that will only win you so much. You simply won’t be the best at some things and, at times, you will most definitely fail.
But, if you’re doing something for you, you will learn from your experiences and that is the mark of true success. Each and every person in the world has the ability to do more than what anyone else could ever imagine.
Although each person must find a personal sense of greatness, these three keys will help open the door in finding yours:
Persistence
Some days, you will want to quit. You will feel pain and decreased self-esteem. Those times in our lives can really suck. Those times can take so much out of you when you’re consistently working toward a goal and not reaching it, so instead of giving up, why not pause and celebrate your small successes?
Don’t let the difficult times guide your life. Be keen with your senses, listen to others and take what you learn to your future experiences. Never stop moving forward in your life.
Willingness To Fail
Why are you here? It took a long ride, full of trials and tribulations, for me to comprehend that I simply won’t be the best at everything I do. But, the fact that I can willingly give something my all — even if I know I may fail or be average — is notable.
Define what you are doing and why you’re doing it. Remind yourself of this every single day. Follow this by reassuring yourself that if you fail, you will continue to try. It may be uncomfortable and painful for you to deal with, but you can learn something, no matter whether you succeed or fail.
Our willingness to find greatness can never be greater than our willingness to fail. Don’t give up on yourself. If you quit, you’ll never know what could’ve been.
Vulnerability
Each time we go into an experience with our vulnerable selves, we leave the door open to opportunity. Be ready to give your all and accept even more in return. Closed minds create small results. Open minds create endless possibilities.
We convince ourselves that pain is so unbearable that we should never feel it. We protect ourselves from letting anything in — good or bad. I can’t tell you that everything in your life will feel good, but I can tell you that, in the long run, it will always be worth it.
Bring On The Greatness
Greatness is finding love within yourself and being able to pour your heart into something with acceptance that you may fail.
If your heart is in something for the wrong reason, you may never find fulfillment. I’ve learned that fame, glory and success are conditional side dishes to what I truly want: to feel whole.
So, do you dare to ask the universe for what you desire? You have a choice: pursue what you don’t want or work toward what you might love.
If you give something your all, you may fail catastrophically, but you also may open up your life to some magnitude of greatness. Bottom line: Be vulnerable, be persistent and be ready to fail.
Photo Courtesy: We Heart It
