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Once upon a time…
5-year old William asked his father, “Papa, what does the word ‘Great’ mean?” In my reading book, it said that a man was great and he did this and that. How do people become great?”
Will’s dad thought for a moment and then said, “Let’s go for a ride to the garden centre”. At the centre, they chose two identical plants and brought them home. One was planted into a pot and placed inside and the other was planted outside in the back garden.
“What do you think, Will?” beamed his dad, “Which plant will grow into something great?”
Will thought for a moment and said, “The plant inside is safe from the wind and storms so that one will grow big, but this one outside doesn’t have any protection. What if the dog eats it?”
Will’s father smiled and ruffled his hair “All in good time, my son. For now, let’s get you ready for big city school.”
The next day Will left on the train to boarding school, still wondering if the dog would eat the lonely little plant outside.
The following season, Will eagerly returned home. When he saw the luscious green sprawling leaves of the inside plant, he said to his father, “See Papa? I told you that nothing would happen to this plant and it would be safe and grow big!”
His father smiled and said, “You should see the other one.”
Will raced out the back door to be greeted by a tree. He couldn’t believe his eyes! “How, Papa?”
Will’s dad explained that the plant outside was able to grow this big because it had faced every season and many difficulties. Because the plant inside was safe, it didn’t face any weather and did not get proper sunlight, so it didn’t grow very big.
“Here is your answer about being Great” he said. “To become a Great person means to face many difficulties and perhaps fail many times. A Great person will overcome those difficulties with their power and determination. It is the overcoming that makes them Great.
“Your greatness is revealed not by the lights that shine upon you, but by the light that shines within you.”
― Ray A. Davis
Struggles and tribulations sow the seeds for greatness. You were put on this earth to achieve your greatest self, to live out your purpose, and to do it courageously. Rise to the challenge of bringing your dreams to life! If you avoid doing difficult things, the rewards for doing them will avoid you too. Do not be discouraged by resistance, be nourished by it. Success is the experience of rising to the level of your true greatness. When we least expect it, life sets us a challenge to test our courage and willingness to change; at such a moment, there is no point in pretending that nothing has happened or in saying that we are not yet ready. The challenge will not wait. Life does not look back. If you never dare to be great, you’ll always be mediocre.
There is some greatness in each of us but it cannot fully emerge unless we are tested by adversity You need to have faith in yourself. Be brave and take risks. You don’t have to have it all figured out to move forward. We have to be honest about what we want and take risks rather than lie to ourselves and make excuses to stay in our comfort zone. How would your life be different if you could control the outcome of your day, your week, your year? Let today be the day you embrace the truth that you DO have control to label every event in your life, and create an agreement with reality that empowers you and propels you into Greatness.
“It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.”
― E.E. Cummings
My possibilities are endless. I am a magnet for success. I know that hard work pays off and I am fully committed. Progress and effort are what matters. I am brave and strong and powerful. I am in control of my destiny. I will keep moving forward. I am proud of myself. I have many skills and talents. I have the power to create change. I release all negative programming of self-doubt and fear that keeps me from moving forward. I am resilient. I am right where I am supposed to be. I add something special to this world. It’s going to be a great day – yay!
“At times the world may seem an unfriendly and sinister place, but believe that there is much more good in it than bad. All you have to do is look hard enough, and what might seem to be a series of unfortunate events may in fact be the first steps of a journey.”
― Lemony Snicket
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