Will you ever amount to anything?
Prominent individuals whether in power or not seem to have one trait in common that separates them from the many. That trait is value. Providing value isn’t an easy task to accomplish but what if I said we all have some sort of value to give to the world, even if it’s not as grand as others. People mistake value with extraordinary feats such as millionaires donating hundreds of thousands in charity or creating revolutionary products for the masses. This is just one form of value, there are many sides to it and our efforts should not be wasted on focusing on the irrelevant.
It's easy to get caught up in our own little world serving under our employers as we naturally fall into subservient behaviour. Our value is taken lightly in the eyes of the superior which in turn makes us perceive our value as less. This is a dangerous route to fall down as we feel like we have nothing to contribute to our community. There are a few reasons as to why our value may not be worth the effort in our own eyes and I will discuss them today.
1 – Comparisons
Comparing our lives with others is completely normal and it’s done by the majority of people. It’s a terrible trait to unconsciously possess as it can stop us from enjoying what we have. You could be great at what you do with others respecting your efforts yet if you see someone who is doing slightly better than you, your thoughts may undermine your value. Comparisons can stop us from living a fruitful life, the only way to prevent this is through intentions and purpose. If our cause is to help others and we were doing exactly that, then why would someone else’s actions have any effect. There may be a possibility that we’re doing it for the wrong reasons. Actions from the heart with true purpose will always be for selfless reasons. We should reflect on intention and purpose as often as possible. These two factors will save us from comparing.
2 – Not making a difference
Not making a noticeable difference in society could cause us to refrain from doing anything. Drastic change isn’t made overnight, our efforts are never wasted regardless of whether they’re noticed or not. Small but consistent actions always prevail. If we’re able to focus on the here and now instead of what the future holds, then our efforts will be much more rewarding. Donating £1 to charity may not seem like you’re doing much but what if 1,000 people did the exact same thing at the same time. Our mentalities don’t differ that much within society – what do I mean by this? We all share very similar views when it comes to certain things, and it doesn’t take much to flip the switch and change our perspective. My mindset of donating £1 won’t do anything will most definitely change if I know there are 100s of people doing the same thing.
Our value doesn’t have to pertain to great things compared to those who do unimaginable things. Even the smallest act can be valuable, it’s how you decide to perceive it. We all have our role to play in society, our purpose is what should discipline and motivate us to continue, not extrinsic motivation but intrinsic motivation. To assume you have nothing valuable to contribute to the community is foolish. You may not consider your skills and experiences valuable yet someone may consider them priceless. Look for your purpose and stem your efforts from that, I’m sure your mindset will shift and your intentions will change. Before I end this blog, remember, providing value doesn’t necessarily need to benefit you, it can benefit those receiving and that may help someone beyond your expectations.