How to be Truly Great

It’s not uncommon for us to have fantasies about being great.

Many people are striving to achieve what they believe constitutes a great life, be it status, money, fame, or accolades.

The constant race to the top is never-ending because of the human drive to be significant.

But what does greatness mean to you?

Some of the greatest people I’ve ever met are not people you would ever hear about.

They are everyday men and women who lead humble, quiet lives.

And yet, whenever I think about them, I would describe them as embodying greatness.

So what is greatness?

Sophia is a small-statured woman in her 40’s who spends her days volunteering at summer camps, humanitarian work, and supporting her husband’s pastoral ministry.

She isn’t rich, famous, nor building a business. And her Instagram profile is private.

But she has the incredible gift of hospitality. Her home is constantly filled with guests and friends, both old and new. You don’t need to know her for more than an hour before receiving an invitation to another one of her house parties.

She makes you feel loved, cared for, and important.

If you asked every person who knows her, all of them would tell you that Sophia is well-respected and held in high regard by everyone.

She embodies greatness.

Jeremy is a soft-spoken mechanic in his 30’s. Day in and day out, he works at his blue-collar job. On the weekends, he shows up at house parties with one of his delicious recipes.

He’s an amazing cook, is passionate about food, and loves talking about a hole-in-the-wall diner he recently discovered.

He also has the amazing ability to empathize with you and offer eye-opening wisdom. There have been many times when I have been positively impacted by his advice.

He has such a warm and joyful presence that lights up the room, and many others have agreed that their lives have been made better because of him.

I would say he embodies greatness too.

What do Sophia and Jeremy have in common?

Regardless of their professions, status, and wealth, they are living fully into their gifts and what they are designed to do, and making many lives better because of it.

To me, that’s greatness. True greatness can’t be a single external measure determined by society.

For the same reason the public school system and standardized tests can’t be the best measure of a successful student. School measures one path of success when there are many paths.

To be truly great (in my book) is to become the best version of yourself, which is necessarily uniquely individual. The thing is that your best self can’t help but impact the people around you for the better.

Live fully into your gifts, calling, and what you’re designed to be and do, and thereby making lives better because of your presence.