I recently received a newsletter from someone who shared in a highly personal manner how she just launched a new website, wrote a new book, and was doing many other phenomenal things. And guess what? She's scared like crazy! Why? Well, the problem is her own belief system.
She is scared of her own greatness. I am impressed with her, though,
because in spite of her fear she is moving forward. She is going for her
dreams even though they scare her! Yes, even great leaders who we admire often get scared.
I will tell you that I have faced this problem, myself. I believe the reason we get scared of our own greatness is because we have a self-critic built into our flesh that is the scourge of our higher self. This critic tells us things like "you're not good enough..." or "nobody will care if you do this great thing..." or "yeah, really, as if!" or other stupid things. But,
if this is your purpose, then you ARE great enough to do it. Perfect is
the very best you have within you.
The reality is this: IF WE BELIEVE WE CAN DO IT - THEN WE CAN!
May I offer you a word of encouragement? If you are doubting your own ideas, your own greatness, your own power to MAKE A DIFFERENCE in the world, well, then NOW is the time to PUT ASIDE the DOUBT and take up the SWORD AND SHIELD CALLED FAITH! FAITH comes from taking small steps. Steps
indicate ACTION. Therefore, if you act in a way that is wise and aiming
towards what you seek, the odds are higher you will succeed.
Will all steps lead to feet firmly planted on the ground? Well, if you are scaling a tall mountain, you might slip once in a while. The key is whether you quit or start climbing again when you do. So, if you're going after that tall mountain and wondering if you'll make it, believe you will, look at the peak, take a step at a time, and KNOW that you'll SOON be looking at the VIEW FROM THE TOP.
What makes a person truly great? Someone
recently asked me this question. My answer came to me after some thought.
I've recently asked others this question and ratified my answer through
similar responses from people throughout society who have it
together.
So, what makes a person great?
1. First, greatness comes from maintaining
impeccable integrity. By integrity, I mean doing what you say you will do.
Integrity is honoring your word. Integrity is following through on your
intention without wavering. Integrity is acting and being consistent with
your purpose.
2. Second, greatness comes from loving others
when love it not given first. Great people do not rely on outside
circumstances to dictate whether or not they love others. This definition
also means that people like Adolph Hitler were not, in my opinion, great.
Because they failed to love others first. In fact, Hitler failed to love
others. He was passionate about his purpose, which gave him charisma. But
he lacked compassion. And without compassion, there is no love. Love
others first and you will increase your greatness.
3. Third, greatness comes from being highly
passionate and committed to your higher purpose. This type of passion
leads people to think outside the box and come up with creative visions
for improving the world. This is a sign of greatness. In addition, this
type of greatness is what people often call charisma.
Keep in mind that if you think you have to be
perfect, that you may in fact be judging your greatness. Any judgment of
your greatness, when you are acting in accordance with these three values
above, limits your greatness. As Duke Ellington, the great jazz pianist
and band leader, once said, "Do the very best with what you've
got." It's hard to argue with that. Do your very best. Honor your
purpose with all passion you can muster, love others first even when their
love for you seems absent, and act with impeccable integrity. When you do
these things, you will be great each and every day.
This
article is adapted and expanded from Scott's new e-book, "The
Keys To Discovering Your Purpose: Experiential Workbook," -- full of interactive exercises that
will enable you to tap into the deep, true, clear part of who you really
are with the clarity and vision of an eagle. Also, buy Scott's recently
re-released audio partner program to the workbook, entitled "Keys
To Discovering Your Purpose" spoken by Scott.
