Ronald Reagan, the 40th president of the United States of America, once said, “There is no limit to the amount of good you can do if you don’t care who gets the credit.” Just imagine what your family, company, or community could accomplish if everyone put their ego aside and focused on the important tasks for the greater good. Simple in concept, however difficult in execution.
Because we’re all naturally selfish and essentially “self-employed.” By that I mean, we’re working for our glory and success. The only way to suppress that desire, i.e. to demote self and humbly elevate something above our ego, is to commit to building a relationship with someone bigger than ourselves. That someone is God, and the commitment entails daily habits that allocate time and energy to get to know Him. That is, in fact, the key to building any relationship. Devote time and energy, and it will incrementally happen. All that’s needed is commitment. What follows is a win-win for you and others in your life.
That begs the question, “Who are you working for?“
My boss is a Jewish Carpenter. I work at whatever I do with all my heart, as though I work for the Lord, not a human master. By doing this, it frees me from seeking praise from other people. It liberates me to serve others, no matter the congratulations or criticism I get from them. My desire to serve is not a function of their response. It is simply to serve and help others in God’s name. That’s where my joy is rooted.
The amazing byproduct is the ability to live and pursue happiness irrespective of circumstances. Good and bad things happen to me, but I live a consistent, calm, assertive, joy-filled life because it’s rooted in God getting the credit. When that matters most, there’s no limit to the amount of good I can do and that’s such a blessed assurance.
It’s worth repeating … imagine what your family, company, or community could accomplish if everyone put their ego aside and focused on the important tasks for the greater good. The truth is anyone who desires greatness must first become a servant.
What a wonderful world it would be!
This post was originally published on August 2, 2020, and is republished today with meaningful enhancements.
MindWolves 