The custom from earlier times which promotes the belief that one must “WORK HARD” for continued existence often leads to ignoring the rationale behind it. The human condition that focuses on “keeping the lights on” is exercised in the everyday life. When we are locked in the daily chase that prioritizes securing the immediate present need, we lose the vision of building something that lasts down the years. We are then, admitted to the rat race where the focus is on our daily bread. It usually appears to the actor as a quest to fulfil a need or the ‘hustle’ to put food on the table, which is without doubt, a great start to greatness. However, being stuck in that rhythm leaves no space for more. Stuck in survival can cause exhaustion, dissatisfaction and an unending effort to live fulfilled. It denies people the opportunity to paint a masterpiece in life or create something great.
The rat race is not only for the everyday people, the rich and powerful are also admitted to their level of the rat race as they require to work very hard to compete with others for reward, for money, power or respect. They are probably the grande racers. Some are building for themselves and for their unborn generation…but those who become rich, will fall into temptations…!
A disadvantage of the excessive focus on survival is that it limits the mental capacity and fixates on mastering the ability to meet needs. The brain is occupied by the algorithms of survival in a manner that it has no memory to execute the function that creates and innovates. Being stuck in the algorithm of survival could be as a result of the fear of taking any risk outside the familiar framework. It is hard to build stability in a world that never stands still. While life is seemingly kinetic, greatness requires a potential energy to be managed to create and to execute, even in an atmosphere of chaos and unpredictable degree of randomness.
Many great people often start their journey to greatness as survival but not mainly focused on money for the day, fame, or power. So, it is not the survival itself that deprives people from greatness but the fear to jump out of the comfort zones of survival. Greatness starts with the drive and passion to solve an existing problem, prove a talent or ability or share life’s blessings with others. The words of the Austrian Psychiatrist capture it: “He who has a why to live can bear almost any how.” The ‘any how-ness’ speaks to the measure of adaptation and resilience within an environment where one lives. Viktor spent three years in various concentration camps. There, he observed that inmates who conceived a future, were more likely to survive than those who gave up. After he survived life in the Nazi camp, he showed greatness, established the Logotherapy institute for psychotherapy. Yes! they say only the strong survive, but it is the wise who excels.
You can excel without being great but you cannot be great and not have excelled. A person who excels fulfils life’s need within a specific time, but a great person creates an impact or a legacy that outlives the time. Take Harriet Tubman for example, she turned the darkness of slavery into the light of greatness which still shines in the black families of “African Americans”. Tubman, born into the survival realities of slavery in America, despite being brutally injured and suffered psychological violence, she charted the cause that abolished slavery, escaping to Philadelphia in mid 19th Century. While she could have quietly lived her life in Philly, she dared to return to the slave counties 13 times and rescued 70 enslaved people. Nelson Mandela survived in a 4-square-meter cell in Robben Island. After 27 years he moved to the Presidency. isn’t that’s greatness?
While freedom itself is not free, the price of greatness must be paid, and in full! Be honest about it, a quick self reflection helps to re-assess a situation. Identify where taking a risk feels like a threat and being part of the crowd feels safer. Until you see the little things, be self aware and seek beyond the bread, it is hard to be great if stuck in survival.
Written by: Byke Freeborn|X:Twitter; @bykefreeborn