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The Secrets To Greatness

Greatness is a journey into a horizon of excellence and fulfillment in life. Greatness is not a destination but yet another wanton responsibility. The road to greatness is full of thorns and the horizon susceptible to slippery. So many have fallen from grace to grass just because they believe greatness is a destination they have arrived.

It is said that "some are born great, some achieve greatness and some have greatness entrusted upon them." But I want to tell us that "Everyone is born great! There is greatness inside of us!" Those who are often referred to as 'being born great' are just those who were privileged to be born into a family of affluence (The Rich-borns), but that is not a guarantee to achieving greatness. Ironically greatness has eluded so many of them! Hence I say, "Everyone is born great (created with potentials); Everyone has greatness entrusted to him (greatness is our responsibility) but not Everyone can achieve greatness (accomplish/fulfill his destiny)"

HOW THEN CAN ONE ACHIEVE GREATNESS?

1. DEVELOP YOUR MIND: The achievement of greatness begins from the mind. See greatness in you, think greatness of you, believe you are great and you will achieve greatness. No wonder the Bible says "Guide your heart with all diligence for out of it springs forth all issues of life."

2. BELIEVE IN GOD: Having developed your mind towards greatness, believe in your creator who has made you great. Of course you cannot become it without Him. "He is the Author and the Finisher of your greatness (destiny)." Make Him your guide! Study and obey His words and you'll be surprised how the thorn-full journey to greatness becomes smooth and easy. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understandings, in all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your path." Remember "it is not of him that wills nor of him that runs but only God that shows mercy."

3. WORK ON YOUR DREAM: There is no greatness ever without a dream. Your dream is the engine of your greatness. Look inside you, bring out those potentials or talents in you, and work on them. Formal education is good but Pals listen to me; if you're not privileged to further your formal education, don't waste your precious time on it or even feel discouraged about it. Go for trainings and workshops that are in line with your talent in order to harness and develop it-that's another form of education (informal education). The Bible emphasizes that "the gift of man maketh a way for him and set him on high before kings and princes." It is not 'the qualification or certificate of a man' rather his 'gifts (talents/potentials).' The great men I've known and heard of today are not all graduates. Don't feel frustrated about the present economic situation or the actions of the government of this nation towards education. Go work on your talents and by the time you surface, you'll rule the world. Trust me!

4. BE CONSISTENT AND FOCUSED: Don't pursue too many things at a time "write your vision and make it plain." It's true may have many talents God blessed you with, but there is always one amongst them that seems predominant and serves as a centre where others are linked to. Work on it and others will gradually begin to cue in. Avoid distractions from friends and families. Devote your time and energy on that set goal and take up action.

5. DON'T BE AFRAID TO FAIL: Fear is the most deadly virus on earth. Of course no one has ever succeeded who has never failed. Never be afraid of making mistakes because they are the 'best motivation' you'll ever need. When you fail, discover what caused it and learn from it. It was Socrates who said "the reason why I am greater than other is because I recognize my ignorance (mistakes) and greater is he that recognizes his ignorance (mistakes)."

6. SEEK COUNSELS OF MENTORS: Always have a Mentor or a Role Model whom you learn from. Never stop learning; read books, attend seminars and workshops. Try to acquire new ideas, skills and facts everyday.

7. AVOID IMITATION: Greatness is birthed by discovering what others have not yet discovered. Even when they have discovered it, create a distinct and unique idea or impression from the discovery. Don't imitate anyone; your role model or whoever. Just be yourself! Take your time to think and create the unimaginable even from the imaginary.

8. AVOID WRONG ASSOCIATION/ENVIRONMENT: Your association can either make or mar your destiny. Avoid the company of those who can neither see anything good in you nor add value to your life. I call them 'pessimistic cankerworms.' Surround yourself with people who have something to contribute to your greatness. If the environment you find yourself cannot help you achieve your dreams, change to another that can!

9. AVOID PRIDE AND BE SELFLESS: One thing is to become great another is to remain great. Pride they say goes before a fall. The only reason for your greatness is not to benefit yourself rather to benefit others. That is the only secret to remaining great. Avoid Pride! A lot of people after becoming great forget the purpose for which God made them great. Hence, they slip from the ladder of greatness to the dungeon of 'nothingness.' Don't relent or relax when you think you've become great. Rendering humanitarian services is yet another worthwhile responsibility of greatness. It is the only thing that can guarantee your fulfillment and accomplishment in life. So, to enjoy your greatness add value to people's lives, help others realize their dreams and your greatness becomes honorable.

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Don't be afraid to make mistakes. Don't be afraid to get things right. Don't be afraid of your fears.

Fearlessness is not about being fear-less, it's about knowing your fears and using them to guide you towards loving actions (toward yourself and others).

So you will never be free from fear in this life! And greatness comes from being okay with fear, accepting it, but acting from that loving part of yourself that always knows what's best to do in the moment, no matter the seeming 'cost'.

[A white fortune cookie paper with red text on the front reading: Your kindness will lead you to success]

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It's all very well and good accessing your greatness once, but are you prepared to return to the path when you get waylaid or distracted or caught up in your own smallness once more?

It requires discipline to access your strengths rather than your weaknesses.

It requires discipline to welcome others who are accessing their greatness (reminding you that you are not).

And it requires discipline to welcome those who are accessing their fear and their pain (thus tempting you to do the same).

Discipline is needed to get back up again - again, and again, and again.

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"The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek." -- Joseph Campbell

Now being yourself sounds like the simplest thing in the world to be, doesn't it? I mean, can you believe that you're actually reading an article about greatness and the author's spouting some 'be yourself' cliche, as if it's some revelation you've not considered before!

Well, let me elaborate a little, let me explain. Being yourself means this: know Your Self, and act from that knowledge; know your fear, and DON'T act from that.

Or, rather less clu

Anna Paquin discusses her bisexuality

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Nothing can be done about something that is not known.

The truth about all life, yours and mine, is that we do the best we can from what we know at the time. So either we simply do not know any better; or if we do, we also know of reasons (so many reasons!) that justify our 'less' behaviour.

With self-awareness, true awareness - and not that awareness that is merely awareness of other's faults - comes knowledge of who we are and what we do. Self-awareness enables us to take a different action next time, a better action. Self-awareness listens to the excuses, the justifications, and recognises them as what they are: fear talking!

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No matter what life you are living, and what's happened to you or what's about to happen, there are reasons for you to feel grateful!

No matter what life you've lead, or what life awaits you to be lived, it will ALWAYS be a greater life IF you can be grateful!

Gratitude is empowering. Gratitude feels good. Your gratitude allows you to access your greatness!

(Don't believe me? Well, spend the next 30 days finding reasons to be grateful, 'Reasons to be Cheerful' you might say, and tell me afterwards that it didn't make you feel great!)

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"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." -- Anaïs Nin

Okay, the first thing to say is this: there are more than 7 ways to access your greatness! Which means that this greatness article is only the beginning of your journey into accessing your own greatness; it should merely be thought of as a simple pointer showing you the way.

So let's not be tempted into giving our power away, eh, to yet another promise of 'the answer': YOUR greatness is about YOU, nothing more and nothing less!