Living Beyond Self

If all you live for is just for yourself, then you are not truly living. It does not matter what you have or the level of your possessions, if you have not used them for the sake of humanity, then they are not really serving a greater good. In this era, a lot of people measure achievement by what you have acquired; like money, assets, influence, recognition, etc. But what they fail to understand is that the people who live a must fulfilled life are not those who live solely for themselves, but those who have also lived for others. This is living for a greater good. True purpose lies in using your gifts, possessions, and time beyond your personal gain, but to also service the needs of humanity.

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Living beyond self does not mean that you should neglect your well-being and your personal growth. But it means that you should understand that every human is connected in someway. As a matter of fact, everyone is actually a subset of another person. Everything you have today; be it skill, knowledge, assets, opportunities, position, all carry responsibilities with them. Your purpose finds a better expression when it contributes to something bigger than your personal gain. As a teacher for example, going an extra mile to shape the character of the pupils will make them better members of the society. As a leader, motivating your followers by leading with integrity will make them to become better people. In every position you are, there must be something you can use to make someone else become better.

Your sacrifices become meaningful when your purpose serves a greater good. These sacrifices are not just limited to financial or material things. Sometimes it can be giving someone listening ears, letting go of your convenience, giving someone your time. All these may not be quantified, but their effects are usually priceless. It is what you do with what you have that defines who you are. As a matter of fact, you do not give to people because you have enough nor because of the largeness of your possession, but because of who you are, and because of your good heart. Everyone, no matter their level, position, or status, can do good if they want to. It is all a matter of choice.

Living beyond self also brings clarity when you are making decisions. When you are in the middle of difficult choices to make, you can simply ask yourself these questions; "which choice will also impact others positively?" "Will this decision only benefit me or will it also benefit others?" This will realign your mindset to think differently about success. Instead of thinking of it as an individual achievement, you should also put others into perspective. Success is not necessarily a measure of how you have climbed alone, but it is a measure of how many people you have helped to climb too. In your environment or among your circle, if you are the only one making it and you have not helped anyone to stand, then you are not fulfilling your duties to humanity.

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If you live for only yourself, it will bring division. But when you live for others, it will bring unity, and it will become a greater good. Doing good to someone or helping someone to stand will not bring you down, so remove the mentality that you will fail if you help others to succeed. After all, there are plenty of opportunities that you can take advantage of. Two birds can fly in the same space without crashing into one another. In the same way, you can shine together with someone without anyone putting off each other's light. Communities tend to grow stronger when individuals are willing to contribute towards each other's welfare and not to consume alone.

One of the greatest benefits of living beyond yourself is fulfilment. There is a kind of sense of fulfilment that comes from knowing that someone is feeling better because of you, and knowing that your life matter to someone. A lot of things can be affected by the passage of time or by circumstances. Like money, fame, power, titles, etc, may fade, but the lives you touched will remain changed forever. There is a kind of joy that comes to the heart when you see someone succeed because you have helped them, encouraged them, or stood by them. Purpose is not about how much you take from the world, but it is about how much you give back to it.

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