Becoming Great

Becoming Great

Historically, rulers were often attributed the title of ‘The Great’.  Alexander the Great, The Roman Emperor Constantine the Great, or Catherine the Great of Russia are just a few examples. Yet, what was exceptional about these human beings that qualified them to receive this title? Mostly these people ruled for a long period of time, or conquered large parts of the world, and sometimes they were seen as kind and benevolent leaders, but not always.

In our modern day era we don’t seem to award these titles any longer – for example, we don’t say ‘Queen Elizabeth the Great’, or ‘Bill Gates the Great’.  Could it be that we are looking for a new kind of leadership, or that our measure of greatness is a very different one now?

In today’s world we call many people ‘great’ in all areas of life. We praise ’great’ actors or singers, ‘great’ speakers and teachers, and we applaud great innovators, scientists and writers. As we become inured to success in the world, our measure of greatness is rapidly changing its meaning.  Greatness is no longer a symbol of someone having hierarchical power, especially in this technological age of instant communication, where fame and success is available to many, and in almost any arena.

We live at a pivotal time in which there is a lot of development, innovation, success, and yet that is not matched by an inner sense of satisfaction or contentment. So although great things may be happening to me, or happening out there, it is not always making us feel great as a person, or as a community. We always seem to fall short of something – which keeps us discontent, searching for more and more. And as the global community evolves spiritually, we are realizing that greatness is not all about external success.

Greatness is about mastering our inner world, mastering the self.  We are slowly but steadily moving away from the era of being ‘ruled over’, and heading into a new era of being self-rulers’.

The one who is calm and peaceful is great. The one who can give love in the face of hatred is great.  The one who has humility when opposed with insult and arrogance is great.  This really does change the meaning of greatness altogether. Because greatness is not about power, stature or conquering the world, but about who we are and how we are able to master ourselves in the face of change.

A big part of becoming great is also about making others great, contrary to the outmoded belief that, when I become great, it is I alone who climbs to the peak of name, fame and adoration.  Being great is about putting others first, pulling others up with me, being a leader and not about being a bully or a boss. It’s about inspiring and building a community of great people.  This takes fortitude and humility.

To be great means to step away from selfishness, to step aside from what I personally desire, and to look to the needs of the whole in order to repair the greater whole.  The vision of a great person is broad and far-sighted.  It goes beyond looking at the micro details and instead looks at the bigger picture. It means going beyond judgement and blame, and about not putting others down in order to appear better or more impressive.

Neither is greatness confined to the exalted few. We all can be great in our own way. In fact we are programmed for this kind of greatness. It comes from the heart and soul rather than the head, and once achieved we will be living in a great new world of harmony and peace.

Being great in a world that is currently not so full of greatness, or great news is not easy, but it is important that we persevere daily to reach our highest potential.  In fact, this is the very time in the world when inner greatness is needed. Our world leaders are no longer the icons we need to look up to. Instead we need to look inside to see our own greatness. We need to look inward and find the power within.  When we all become beacons and spread our light, then we will co-create a community, a civilization of greatness.

It’s Time… to BECOME GREAT.

© ‘It’s Time…’ by Aruna Ladva, BK Publications London, UK