Be A Gift To The World

"The very best thing you can do for the whole world is to make the most of yourself."

- Wallace Wattles

(1860-1911) American Author

We have often hear it said about conceited people that they think they are "God's gift to the world."  The fact is, those who think only of themselves and treat others as inferiors are more a curse than a gift.  It is self-centeredness and pride that leads to the downfall of many.  You cannot achieve true success thinking only of yourself.  Having said that, there are those people who are indeed a gift to the world and a joy to be around.

                These "gifts" are of course those who are kind, caring, have solid character and people of integrity.  It is those people who do all they can for others and make this world a better and safer place to live.  Success-minded people understand that by making themselves better and living lives of excellence they in fact make the whole world better.

                It is a lie from the pit of hell that those who seek to become the best they can be and work hard at personal development are self-focused and seek material things.  You cannot be your best and think only of you.  Success-minded people know that in order to do and be your best you need the help of other people.  You need to learn from others.  You need to serve others and to be involved in the lives of other people.

                To be your best takes hard work and a desire to see the lives of others in a better place.  It is knowing that if you can improve yourself, learn more and be more than you are, you will in fact improve the lives of those you are in contact with.  To use a false sense of humility and do nothing to better yourself is not only a selfish act but also lazy.  As the late Corrie ten Boom use to say, "Any dead fish can float down stream." 

                We will see our world improve when we get the ideas that to improve is wrong and to stay the same or less is somehow good out of our thinking.  Those who criticize people who believe in self-improvement have nothing to offer the world they live in.  You can say you want to make the lives of others better, but how can you do that without making your own life better.  It is like complaining about the wealthy.  If not for those with wealth, there would be no charitable giving, school would close, churches would not be funded, and when was the last time a poor person ever created a job?

                Self-improvement is necessary for the betterment of the world we live in.  If each person invested in their learning, work hard and made the best of themselves, we would not be facing many of the issues we face today.  At the very least, we can agree with the words of Thomas Carlyle who said, "Make yourself an honest man, and then you may be sure that there is one less scoundrel in the world."

To read more from John Patrick Hickey or to get his books, training and book him to speak to your church, business or group, visit our website at http://www.growthcenter.net or www.johnpatrickhickey.com.   © 2014 John Patrick Hickey