One Common Characteristic of Great People

A lot of the biographies that I've read about successful people usually share one common characteristic. At one point in time, these people had to overcome the valley of rejection. It was in these times that they fortified themselves and found something deep inside that caused them to keep pushing even when others didn't believe in them. It's hard to overcome rejection, of any form. But I'm starting to see that it is a prerequisite for almost everyone who wants to be great in life (and thereafter). You have to have a strong flame in order to leave a lasting impact, one that will not be put out by the harsh winds of life, indifference of those around you, and the flat out opposition you will face. One has to remain positive in the vast ocean of negativity and mediocrity that so many people accept. And this is no easy task, but then again, if it was easy...

Mastering Emotions (A Required Skill for Great Leaders)

This is a picture of one of the greatest leaders who ever lived, Mohandas Gandhi

Our emotions are very important. They are a significant part of what makes us human. But emotions can change at the drop of a dime for a wide variety of reasons (i.e. illness, bad news, hitting knee on coffee table). Therefore, those who seek to be great must govern themselves by something greater than emotions. If one governs him/herself by emotions, then their commitment to whatever their cause is will shift and decline if they get discouraged enough. They will fly off the handle and lose everything they have worked for if they give in to those who vehemently oppose them. Or they can fall into temptations that can wreck their lives and the well being of those around them if they get emotionally seduced. All great people will and have had to overcome emotions during crucial points in their lives. There has to be an internal resolve that will keep you in position when vacillating feelings begin to be stirred. It just comes with the territory.

The Pain You Overcome Is Someone Else's Inspiration

You've probably heard it said that the pain you endure is for someone else. I believe that to be true to a certain degree. I don't think you can totally take yourself out of the equation though. A lot of the pain we experience (that God allows and that we don't inflict on ourselves) is for our character development and overall long term benefit. Yet, that character development is meant to assist others as well. The people who look up to you or who you are paving the way for (even if you are not conscience of it) are going to find motivation from your story. When they hear the odds that you overcame, they will then be able to muster the courage to face their own adversity (especially if it is similar). It is hard not to focus on ourselves when we are hurting, our natural inclination is to nurse our wounds as quickly as possible. But if we would take a moment to look beyond ourselves, we will perhaps see all of the aspiring souls watching are movements and hoping we will overcome them so they know it is possible for them to do the same.