In going through the motions, most people never really stop to ask themselves, “Is what I’m doing right now in service of the greater good?” Most people just keep chugging along with no idea about where greatness lives or where greatness comes from. To put it simply, greatness lives outside of your comfort zone. Just how far outside that comfort zone depends on the person; it depends on how great their dreams are and what they hope to achieve.
Let’s dive a little bit deeper into that question. Where does greatness live?
Greatness Lives in Small Acts of Kindness
“Greatness” as a concept can seem like a lofty ideal, one that’s reserved for people who conquer mountains—or countries. But, in truth, greatness lives in small acts of kindness.
Those small acts of kindness, spread out over the course of a lifetime, make up greatness; they signify strength of character and a willingness to pay it forward. Through small acts of kindness, a single person can send ripples out and change the world.
Greatness Lives in Pushing Boundaries
No person has ever become truly great by staying in their figurative lane, by playing it safe, or by blindly following a leader.
Greatness comes from testing boundaries and pushing back on commonly held notions of the ways things should be. If no one ever questioned the status quo, there would be no electricity, no cars, no air travel. It’s the boundary-pushers that have defined history and continue to shape our modern definition of greatness.
Greatness Lives in Camaraderie
“No man is an island,” wrote John Donne. Though those words were scribed centuries ago, they ring true to this day. Because no one goes through life one hundred percent alone, it’s important to recognize the role that camaraderie plays in greatness.
The people you choose to spend your time, and ultimately your life, with will considerably impact your chance at achieving greatness. If you want to be great, you have to surround yourself with greatness.
True greatness lives in camaraderie and in developing meaningful relationships with people who have the same visions, goals, and aspirations as you do.
