2) Greatness is borne out of enduring hardship, and staying morally principled.
In our society of attributing one’s worth to their physical appearance and or accumulation of trappings, one very underrated quality is one’s inner strength. The main reason being, no one can really see this virtue in another without knowing them. Another reason why we don’t give much play to inner strength is because….it’s hard! It’s hard to do the right thing-for somebody else-especially when we don’t get rewarded for it. But that’s where greatness germinates.
Let’s call the seed of greatness self-control. Now, I have seen many definitions of self-control but my overall favorite is: “Knowing that you can do something, but deciding not to do it.” So in essence, it’s mind-over-muscle. You are emperor of your impulses; your impulses don’t employ you. You are ruler of your reactions, your reactions don’t rule you. The great thing about self-control is that we have instances in our everyday lives where we get to improve upon, what I like to cal, our “do-right” muscle. Just like regular muscles, our do-right muscle has to be exercised. If not, than in the day of adversity, we will faint under the sheer weight of the pressure and temptation. We need our “do-right” muscle to resist the pressure to cave in to our emotions or reactions. Take for instance a temperamental parent of a young child. If they are driving down a major highway, and some jerk cuts them off, how should that parent respond now that they have little ears around? Self-Control! How should a young man react when he’s given the notion that he doesn’t have to report “all” of his income on his taxes, especially because he’s financially challenged right now? Self-Control! When we make little, great decisions, we are rep-ping our “do-right” muscle. So much so that when a big situation comes, we can endure the pressure and come out doing the right thing. But we haven’t achieved greatness yet! We need one more element: selflessness.
Doing the right thing, at the right time, for the right reason, the right way is called integrity. That’s a noteworthy virtue in and of itself. But to do the right thing, at the right time, for the right reason, the right way, under extreme and adverse conditions produces greatness! Let’s take for instance the story of a modern-day hero Nelson Mandela. Essentially, he purposefully extended his jail time to 27 years until his people we free from apartheid. What strength! What self-control! What selflessness ! It’s hard enough to do the right thing under adverse pressure for ourselves, but to go though vicissitudes for somebody else’s benefit only? Whew! That’s a tall order. But it’s doable! And needed! In today’s society of “me first” and “looking out for numero uno”, people only seem to give you a weird look when you’re doing something solely for somebody else’s benefit, while you suffer. But don’t let ‘em get to you! There’s never an apology for doing the right thing, at the right time, for the right reason, the right way for somebody else!
Remember: We have opportunities to build our integrity in everyday instances; thereby exercising our “do-right” muscle. Keep in mind this quote: "He who controls others is powerful. He who masters himself is stronger still." But it’s only when we plant this fully developed seed of integrity into the soil of external pressure and temptation (especially for somebody else) that it yields greatness. The sad thing is that most people don’t recognize greatness in the making. Most won’t even acknowledge it, sometimes because it makes them feel a certain way. But greatness doesn’t seek attention. It doesn’t look for compliments or reassurance from others in the process, or after. Sometimes, it goes unnoticed for years after the event is long said and done.
Stay tuned to part 3 for when greatness is established!
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