I heard it said the other day that man's greatest fear is being alone; living, growing old, and/or dying alone. I believe that this fear may be a side effect of an empty life, of a love lost, or perhaps even of a life lived long after many friends have passed with age. Of course, as it has been said many times - fear is simply false evidence appearing real!
No, I believe that man's greatest fear should be that one shall not achieve true significance in the grand sense of the word. Yes, you may be a parent, a friend, a lover, or philanthropist; to me true significance is all of these and yet more - a sense of duty to the whole, to give back to those less fortunate than ourselves, to serve others in a way that has an effect that lasts a lifetime, for a generation, or perhaps something that fundamentally changes behavior and/or thinking for all time.
When I was growing up, my father always stated to me to "Do something that matters". I believe he meant that we should all actively participate in creating something - anything - that has benefit to our family our community, to our society. I believe this also includes giving glory to God by employing all the wonderful talents that each of us possess individually.
So where do we begin? Where is this found? How am I able to fulfill such a thing? Is is predestined? I believe it is a learned skill, one obtained through self discovery and perhaps prayer, It's called dreaming.
Every great thing ever created or done started with a thought, and idea, or a need for something better - a dream was born, nurtured, and acted upon. We all grew up dreaming of great things, achievements, and lifestyles, yet why are our dreams seemingly repressed and shunned as unusual, stupid, and "wasteful" by the many, yet revered by the few?
I have asked that question of myself and also of those whom I know that have achieved great things and the response is always the same - it takes guts, determination, persistance, and "thick skin" to pursue a dream - especially a dream of significance. Many dreams of significance take years, even a lifetime, to achieve but, to those who achieve them, the results are worth the effort and then some. Dreams follow a natural path that is very much alike from person to person. It is Dream - struggle - victory! It's the "struggle" part that creates the problem. Many focus on the struggle so much that they don't realize - it's not the struggle that is significant, it is who we become in the process that matters.
I encourage you to think past your next "vacation", don't get me wrong - a "dream trip" to Hawaii or a new car may be a good starting point, but it's really more of a short-term goal. (As a side note - my friend told me the other day - as many, many people have told me - "I love my job!" If this is true, why do we need "vacations" from them?)
Dream Big! Step away from the crowd and be a person of significance. I highly recommend The Magic of Thinking Big by D. Schwartz. It's a great starting point for changing your perspective on where you're headed in every aspect of your life. Great results start with great thoughts and if you find yourself asking "Is this it? Is this all there is?" I'm here to tell you that your ability to accomplish anything you want to is limitless with the right information, people, and initiative.
I know from my own personal experience that if you think about it frequently enough and keep your eyes open to possibilities, you can and will eventually find that vehicle, that person, that group, or the faith that will influence your ability to believe in yourself and inspire you to create or achieve great things.
I believe everyone has a significant purpose in life greater than themselves and/or their family; some of us have the ability to go beyond our immediate surroundings and have a tremendous impact on the lives of others. I also believe that it is up to each and every one of us to encourage, promote, and apply this - to our own lives, our childrens', our neighbors', and anyone willing to listen. There is greatness in us all, we all have signficance, and we should all learn to make the most of this thing called "life" by accepting the struggle and working through it to the benefit of us all. What will be your legacy?
Live Well - Be Well!
Stephen
