YOU ARE DESTINED FOR GREATNESS
“The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
What motivates us to find greatness? What compels us to aim for the stars? What drives us to conceive world-changing ideas? I believe it is the greatness that emerges from the Author of creation of all things; the inherent greatness that empowers our human spirit to become extraordinary creators, trendsetters, and legacy makers.
Most people believe greatness is reserved mainly for athletes, scientists, musicians, painters, sculptors, spiritual sages, and literary giants. I disagree. Greatness can also manifest through being a good parent, a dedicated worker, an inspiring coach, a valuable contributor to society, or a master of one’s craft.
As Steve Vai, the famous guitarist, rightly says, “We have the tendency to believe ‘genius’ is restricted to intellectual giants, but perhaps another perspective of ‘genius’ is the ability to seamlessly connect our uniquely inspired creative intuition into the world effortlessly, elegantly, without any excuse or fear. This is our natural and organic state of being. The potential to realize this lies within us all.”
Sadly, many people allow their creative intuition to remain dormant – until forced to express it. Anthony Burgess spent his teenage and adult years suppressing his talent for storytelling. Then one day, at the age of forty, medical doctors diagnosed him with a cancerous brain tumor and gave him a year to live. It was at this point he decided to become a fiction novelist, thinking, “At least I can try to earn some funds for my wife since I’m not going to be around to support her.” Within a year, he not only wrote one but five fiction novels and became a successfully published author. But then something miraculous happened: his cancer went into remission and he did not die. Now, finding himself with more years to live, he wrote over 70 additional books; his most famous being, “A Clockwork Orange.”
Similarly, the celebrated detective novelist Raymond Chandler discovered his life’s calling due to financial constraints. Before becoming a renowned author, he was a successful executive in the oil industry. However, due to the financial crisis of the Great Depression in the 1930s, he found himself jobless and without financial security. It was then he began to explore a new career in writing – a passion he always had but never committed to pursuing. He started writing for pulp magazines, diligently advancing his skills. He published his first short story in 1933, a year after being fired from his executive job. His first novel, “The Big Sleep,” appeared six years later when he was 51-years old. He later developed the iconic character, Phillip Marlowe, among others and influenced countless crime writers and filmmakers.
Also, the soulful musician Bill Withers, who blessed the world with hits like, “Lean On Me” and “Ain’t No Sunshine” did not begin working on his musical career until his early thirties. His precarious situation wasn’t economic hardship or a medical ailment but the slow, persistent nagging of an unexpressed inner talent – a quiet desperation within his soul that demanded an outlet. He invested his meager savings into recording demos and began distributing them, trying to find success. His debut album, “Just As I Am,” released in 1971 when he was 33, launched a career that saw him become a three-time Grammy Award winner and a revered figure in soul music.
Each one of us do not have to follow the same pattern. We do not have to wait until a precarious situation hits home or a dormant talent nags at our soul to start working on our creative intuition. Our God-given abilities and talents are already there and waiting on us to awaken them. But just like everything else in life, we love to put up excuses as to why this is not possible. Perhaps due to low self-esteem, laziness, procrastination, harsh living conditions, financial restraints, or limited resources. Oftentimes, however, it isn’t the excuses holding us back, but the actual emotion of fear keeping us bound – fear of what others might think, fear of making commitments, and fear of failing and others mocking us. I like how Marianne Williamson’s poem puts fear into perspective:
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, “Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?” Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. You playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine as children do. We were born to manifest the glory of God that’s within us. It is not in just some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give others permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others” Return To Love” by Marianne Williamson.
So put away fear and excuses, believe in yourself, and dismiss those who try to dictate what you are capable of doing in this world. Don’t let anyone question your ideas, endeavors, and dreams. Ironically, the ones who will tell you, “You can’t do this,” “You can’t do that,” or “Stop thinking stupid ideas. Be rational,” are often the closest to you. Ignore them. Instead, use their pessimistic comments to strive even harder for what you want out of life. Start today, tomorrow, or the day after, but start. Make a commitment, make a decision, however fearful it may feel.
And if you are unaware of your creative intuition, pray to the gift and talent giver (God) to reveal it to you. I am more than certain you’ll receive illumination as what your greatness is. Or you can implement the following techniques and strategies to enlighten you.
* Self-Reflection and Observation. Consider activities when time seems to melt away; where you feel a sense of effortless engagement and joy. What comes naturally to you? Recall childhood passions. What did you love doing without external prompting? This could be building something, storytelling, problem solving, or organizing and planning.
* Seek Feedback From Others. Friends, family, and colleagues often see our talents more clearly than we do. Ask for their observations about you. Mentors can also recognize special traits and encourage you to utilize those traits in meaningful ways.
* Exposure and Experimentation. Engaging in new activities, even those out of your comfort zone, can reveal aptitudes and interests hidden from you. Engage in hobbies, different classes, or volunteer in diverse projects. The more experiences you experince, the more opportunities you create for your dormant talents to surface.
After you discover the type of greatness embedded in you, seek knowledge and education to polish your raw talent. Practice it consistently and allow it to become second nature to you. With dedication and hard work, you can develop it to perfection. Find mentors and role models in your area of interest. Seek advice from them. Observe their success to help accelerate your growth. Connect greatness to your passions and career goals; aligning your talent with a meaningful purpose amplifies its power.
Never suppress your creative intuition. When our talents are unused, we feel disconnected from our purpose, leading to existential frustration and despair. The lingering thought, “What could have been,” becomes a nagging, profound regret. It can create anxiety and depression, because we are not following our life’s destiny.
So don’t sit around waiting for the right moment, the perfect circumstances, or for some catastrophe to hit home to start working on your greatness. Begin with small steps and soon you’ll be taking larger strides.
You are destined for greatness. Expand it. Make it happen. Now.
SELF-AFFIRMATION:
I know there is greatness in me. It is up to me to unearth my gifts and talents. I will not fear what I am capable of. I will not allow procrastination to hold me back from what I can accomplish with my life. I have skills and abilities I can offer the world. I am not average. I am exceptional. I can be great in my own right.
EDWIN RUBIS #79282-079
FCI ASHLAND
P.O. BOX 6001
ASHLAND, KY 41105
