Depending on which side of life's philosopical spectrum we reside, we can find the appropriate team of guru's to exemplify that we are on the right track and doing well.
If we decide to be inquisitive, inventive, ambitious, and driven toward leaving a legacy, there will be an illustrious legion of examples at hand to strengthen our convictions that we are on the right track and that we should definitely persevere in the realization of our mission.
This is where names of great ones such as Edison, Bell, Einstein, Napoleon, Columbus, Bolivar, are presented to us. We get inspired by stories of these assiduous spirits that did not quit, even after 10, 100 or 1000 failures, but emerged time and again to prove their points and reach for the recognition they were after. With these role models in mind, life is painted to us as a torch that has to be passed along after accomplishing our share of the course. And the greater the distance we can cover during our lifetime, the greater our legacy, which â€" as is portrayed in this perspective â€" is the ultimate essence of life: contributing toward the betterment of future generations of our kind.
Yet, if we decide to be content with where we are: serene, quiet, dependable, and subservient as grass in the wind, there is another powerful set of prototypes available to contribute toward the conviction that this is the proper attitude of enduring the short journey of life we are now experiencing.
This is where spirits of an entirely different greatness are presented to
us: Buddha, Jesus, Moses, Mohammed, Gandhi, Mother Theresa; people who did not necessarily sought eternal fame and fortune but obtained an immortal reputation in spite of their humility, simplicity, and deliberate dwelling among the least fortunate in their lives and times. Their greatness emerged through the devotion with which they engaged in trying to obtain complete peace with- and acceptance of the circumstances in which they were placed by destiny. Yet, their heroism in history books is by no means of lesser caliber than the previous cohort of icons mentioned under the first presumption of the right attitude toward life.
So, now that these seeming extremes have been presented, which one would YOU prefer to identify with? Outgrowing the status quo with an inexorable desire to make a difference, and continuing to explore roads toward establishing that difference; or quietly participating in the community where you happened to be end up, and trying to make the best for yourself and others for as long as this short adventure called life lasts for you?
The answer has not yet been given, and probably never will be. It can only be formulated by your nature, experiences, and moods. The answer may even alter every time you read this article. And regardless of your choice, it's always right, since no one has ever returned from the death to explain which road is the better one to take in order to guarantee sufficient reward in the hereafter.
Your best bet may be to go with the only true and timeless leader to be
recognized: your gut feeling. What else?
About the author:
Joan Marques emigrated from Suriname, South America, to California, U.S., in 1998. She holds a doctorate in Organizational Leadership, a Master's in Business Administration, and is currently a university instructor in Business and Management in Burbank, California. Look for her books "Empower the Leader in You" and "The Global Village" in bookstores online or on her
website: http://www.joanmarques.com