According to Plato, "The first and best victory is to conquer the self."
This is perhaps the most fundamental key to success. It sounds very simple, yet it is also incredibly challenging. Why do we need to conquer the self? How do we do it? The answers to both of these questions stem from the fact that we really do become what we think about.
As human beings, we are born with almost limitless potential. We have special and unique talents that we can use to make the world better. This is not to say that everyone is great at everything, or that we are great without putting forth effort. This is to say that when we work to develop our gifts, when we follow our passions, amazing things begin to happen. In order to do this, we need to control our thoughts, to believe that we are successful because we are on the path to achieving our goals and that these goals will eventually be achieved. We need to be able to deal with setbacks and frustrations, and keep moving forward. That is not easy. In order to achieve our dreams, we do not need to control our circumstances, we need to truly conquer ourselves.
This ties in with Horace Mann's great quote, "Seek not greatness, but seek truth and you will find both." The fundamental truth is that each of us has the potential for greatness, and each person will define greatness in their own way. How do we realize that greatness? We do it by pursuing this truth, knowing that it is a lifelong journey. We need to be aware that we really do become what we think about. If those around us are telling us we'll never go anywhere and we choose to believe it, we'll never go anywhere. If we choose to continue to believe in our goals, we will attain them. If we experience setbacks and choose to believe that those setbacks are permanent, they will be. If we choose to look at them as lessons to learn from and challenges to overcome, we will overcome them and continue to move toward greatness. If we choose to fill our minds with distractions, we will be distracted. If we choose to study the lessons of those who have achieved true greatness and emulate them, understanding these truths will move us to greatness as well.
For those of us in positions of authority, it is vital that we too constantly seek truth and pass on good doctrine to our charges. In doing so, we too become great. Our words will challenge us to live up to our own ideals. This is why it is impossible to help others without in some way helping yourself. As these ideals are taught and lived out, more and more people move toward greatness, and the world advances in a positive way.
It all begins with conquering the self, the first and the best victory.
