“Get up, for it is your duty to tell us how to proceed in Setting things straight. We are behind you, so be strong and take action.”
—Ezra 10:4 NLT
Last week, I said to a friend of mine, “Do you know why everything you do always prospers? It’s because everything you Fight for is not just for yourself, but you’re always either fighting for a purpose or for your people, in general.” I believe that even when it looks like a person is solely fighting for their own benefit, there should practically always be a deeper principle behind their fight. And that principle should be something bigger than just the person’s ego. Whether this is realized or not, every time someone stands up for themself, they are also standing up for others in that same predicament. This is the process by which our cultures continue to advance and move forward.
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We have a different sense of motivation when our purpose is rooted in setting a precedent, a standard, or a greater example; especially when the goal is rooted in counteracting the flaws in a cultural norm. As an example, most people obviously want good friendships solely for self-related reasons. Then there are others who want good friendships also because they realize the power they have to influence their sphere. These are people who are seeking to set good examples of how we should be treated as humans, and it is often reflected in the way they carry themselves in their own personal relationships.
Everything you and I settle for will be something that people around us and who come after us will either have to tolerate or be the ones to fight their way through in the future. I’ve always believed that every generation has a responsibility to push their culture forward with as much zeal as we each possibly can. That means that in your family, career and finances, relationships, your health, and in every other area of your life, you should be actively striving for the best. The decisions you make today will either empower or imprison those around you and those after you. So, let your motivation to be great skyrocket to higher heights by consistently living your life with an awareness of the influence you are carrying.
Lots of Love, XO
