Greatness and Skill

Often times we believe that we are not “destined” for greatness because we lack certain skills or abilities. However, it may be useful to explore what exactly we seek in our desire for greatness. Is it a need for identity, a need to be seen and known, a need for approval? Are we confusing the fleeting notion of being famous with the more grounding idea of being excellent, skilled and proficient?

Greatness is never guaranteed but is best achieved by focusing on acquiring, practicing and becoming proficient in a learned skill and shouldn’t come at the expense of one’s continued development in the areas of emotional maturity, morality, and personal growth. Our focus should be on acquiring the skills necessary to pursue our goals at a proficient level, striving for excellence while ideally being encouraged and cultivated by our community and the context where we find ourselves.

True greatness can only come once we’re committed to learning and growing in our areas of interest. In pursuing our goals there should be a sense of joy in our endeavor, leaving us with minimal anger, revenge, regret or similar negative feelings. By choosing our time wisely, measuring progress, setting realistic and attainable goals, we will become better skilled, eventually leading us to proficiency and beyond. Whether or not our work will lead to greatness is out of our control, so it’s best to pursue excellence and mastery. Greatness is subjective and fleeting, whereas skill is something that once attained it is not easily lost or forgotten.