We all want to be great in life. When I speak of greatness in this context, I refer to the result of an heroic act of service connected to mankind. I mean greatness that comes by putting others first before yourself. For the most part, greatness occurs with a series of painful experiences but how many are willing to go through pain? Yet we all desire to be great.
Selflessness equals Love for others.
Selflessness equals compassion.
The problem today, is that our Society has taught us to be selfish, always putting ourselves first before our neighbor. In fact, no one wants to see his peers more successful than he is, no one wants to go hungry in order to satisfy others yet we desire to be great. Again, nobody is willing to be uncomfortable in order to make others comfortable, no one wants to help others without expecting a reward for it, no one is ready to be unhappy in order for others to be happy yet we desire to be great.
Can we not learn from our Mothers, our mothers go a long way to show the act of selflessness. Look at the relationship between a Great mother and her children, she goes hungry just to make sure her children have food to eat first, she sometimes dresses shabbily just to make sure her children are clothed properly; a mother will always put her children’s needs before hers.
Therefore, the Price for greatness is Selfless service while the Prize for selflessness is Greatness.
Take a look at some of the greatest leaders of all time; men like Abraham Lincoln, Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King amongst others. These men had to go through pain to become great and also fought for Noble causes. We all desire to be like these men but we forget too soon that they lived their lives serving others.
Consider the comments of William Arthur, Ward of Texas Wesleyan College in Fort, Texas:
If you are wise, you will forget yourself into greatness.
Forget your rights, but remember your responsibilities.
Forget your inconveniences, but remember your blessings.
Forget your own accomplishments, but remember your debts to others.
Forget your privileges, but remember your obligations.
Follow the examples of Florence Nightingale, of Albert Schweitzer, of Abraham Lincoln, of Tom Dooley, and forget yourself into greatness.
If you are wise, you will empty yourself into adventure.
Also remember the words of General Douglas MacArthur: “ there is no security on this earth. There is only opportunity.”
Empty your days of this search for security; fill them with a passion for service.
Empty your hours of the ambition for recognition; fill them with the aspiration for achievement.
Empty your moments of the need for entertainment; fill them with the quest for creativity.
If you are wise, you will lose yourself into immortality. Lose your cynicism. Lose your doubt. Lose your fears. Lose your anxiety. Lose your unbelief.
Remember these truths: A person must soon forget himself to be long remembered. He must empty himself in others to discover a fuller self. He must lose himself to find himself. Forget yourself into greatness. Empty yourself into adventure. Lose your self into your immortality.
Now let’s be sincere with ourselves,
How many of us are ready to incorporate this mother to child relationship into our daily lives?
How many are ready to help others without seeking benefit or a reward?
How many are willing to give without expectation?
My friends remember, society tells you “love yourself” to always consider yourself before others, that’s self-centeredness.
I challenge you today, let’s go against the norm where kindness is interpreted as weakness. Let’s live life differently and forget ourselves into GREATNESS!!!
Remember selflessness is not thinking less of yourself but thinking of yourself less
Written by-Emmanuel Adeosun
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