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HOW DO I KNOW I'M BORN FOR GREATNESS?

In order to fully understand the answer to this question you must first accept the following statement as fact. We are all born for greatness in some way shape or form. The greatness to which we are born could range anywhere from being a great friend to being a great leader. Once this is accepted as fact the real question is, how do I achieve the greatness for which I was born.

The first step toward greatness is recognition of self. Who am I? What are my best characteristics? Where do my interest lie? The first few years of life we are dependent upon others to help us define self. Our parents, relatives, teachers, and friends. Some of us are blessed by being surrounded by those who are great parents, relatives, teachers, and friends. Others are not so fortunate. Many parents use their children to achieve the greatness they felt they deserved but never achieved. I've witnessed this many times as a coach for a little league baseball team. This is not always disastrous, sometimes the child develops adequate playing skills, but seldom advances beyond adequate. The worst case scenario is the child doesn't develop any aptitude for the sport and sees himself as a failure. Great parents realize that even though their child is a product of their genetic make up, the child is still a unique individual.

Next comes development of those unique characteristics of self. Again role models play an important part in this stage of progression toward greatness. For example lets say that Johnny is very sensitive to the needs of others and often offers comfort and aid to some of his fellow students whom the really cool' kids think of as unworthy of his efforts. Sometimes peer pressure can cause Johnny to back off and work on being "cool". However if Johnny is blessed with a great parent or teacher who sees the potential for him to become a great humanitarian, teacher, doctor, counselor, or friend, they may be able to instill in him the desire to put others ahead of self.

This leads to the next stage, to truly achieve greatness you must possess a desire to share yourself with others. You must want to be a great leader. You must want to be a great humanitarian. You must want to be a great entertainer. You must want to be great and willing to work to be great. Although I truly believe we are all born for greatness, none of us are born great. Greatness takes hard selfless work.

One of the greatest fallacies prevalent today is that greatness is determined by how much money you make and how much power you have. Money and power are nothing without self-fulfillment.
So to answer the question, you'll know you were born for greatness when you've given the best of yourself to serve others.

Learn more about this author, Lum Michael Patterson.
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