“Ever since I was a child I have had this instinctive urge for expansion and growth. To me, the function and duty of a quality human being is the sincere and honest development of one’s potential.” ~ Bruce Lee
Why is it that we human beings are so obsessed with plumbing the depths of our potential? We’re driven by a mysterious force to achieve, expand and grow. This drive appears to be unique to us as a species and while not every single person yields his heart, body and mind to this obsessive compulsion, sufficient numbers do to keep the wheel of human progress turning ever forward.
Some channel this compulsion into a self-centered vein and seek to better themselves that they might get ahead. They see their lives as being discrete, somehow dissociated from the larger body of humanity of which they are a part and somehow detached from the flow of human history across the pages of time. As a result, they are driven to grab what they can, to die with the most toys, to seize the day as they say, typically at the expense of others.
Others take a more enlightened, generous and inclusive approach. Aware of their connection to others and all things, they live beyond themselves. They are compelled in the direction of radiant service, seeing every opportunity for self-improvement as a means of refining and enlarging their capacity for blessing the world around them.
What about you? What do you do with that compulsion when it wells up within you?
Gregory Hake 
Good question – my thoughts center on an unquenchable urge to meet the higher standards set forth by the noble men and women in your life and in history ; you see what is possible in humanity and you just fall in love with the whole process of education and discipline as that which trains the mind, the body and the spirit to selflessly bring newness and brightness to the world we live in. Why not? As if there really is something better to do with your time!
LikeLike
Your post inspires me to look back over my life and recognize the compulsions I had which I then tried to direct in idyllic or idealistic directions, most tending to fizzle at a certain point. And then there is an overall point in my life where my youthful compulsions fizzled to give way to more cynic “adult” attitudes. But honestly we have what we have in this moment, which is forever a gift (or a curse if we choose it to be). I am thankful for your daily inspiration to keep that daily potential growing through the practical opportunities and relationships at our own fingertips. Awesome post to inspire functional follow through!
LikeLike
If it wasn’t for money would we do the things we do. Obviously money has become seemingly an essential in today’s world however if money was not our principle motivation how would we live our life. Your words today encapsulate really how to live a life in the body of humanity. There is a poignant part in the movie, “Hugo,” where words are mentioned by a main character indicating that he saw his life as being an essential part in the whole of humanity and that he had a definite part to play for the synchronization of it. To think how we can be a blessing as our principle motiviation and continue to do what would foster a greater blessing to come through us does put us on the right tract for momentary and lasting fulfillment.
LikeLike
This is a great question. So many people live their lives as Thoreau put it, “in quiet desperation”, either because they have tried to get everything for themselves or have let self-imposed limitations block their creativity. As an artist, when I feel that compulsion, I always think of something beautiful I can create for someone else. In my day-to-day living, I hope that I can always bring a new perspective and inspiration to my work and family.
LikeLike
The urge to achieve is fundamental to life, and yet for most the purity of that urge is contaminated with selfishmess and, oddly, smallness of thought. The accumulation of great wealth, for isntance, is a small goal unless it is tied to a larger sense of creative purpose. Those who function as leaders in the world as we know it tend to be able to galvanize this force of achievement in others for their own selfish ends, and we see collective compulsions manifesting through politics, business,religion, social concerns, etc. But does any of this really qualify as great achievement?
How rare and how wonderful to see an unselfish manifestation of real uniqueness, real achiewvement that expands the wisdom, the beauty and the richness of life into the world!
LikeLike
What a good question for ourselves! I love to learn new things and hear new ideas. They don’t have to be necessarily current but new to me. I’m curious about others achievements in art, science, their cultural mores and their abilty to flourish as an individual. I find being aware of other interpretations has opened my understanding, broadened my own thinking, increased my capacity for compassion and appreciation of the potential of human kind.Your blog and its participants are a good example of what I find enriching for myself and my contribution. Thanks so much.
LikeLike
There is no question that we have this compulsion, but if you take the first approach to life you will never really fulfill it. I believe that even though it may sometimes be hidden, the compulsion is not so much to achieve for the sake of achievement, but to achieve a better state for ourselves and for the whole of humanity as well. Do you ever notice that the people who are on top socioeconomically, if they don’t radiantly serve, are just as miserable (and often more miserable) than the people who have nothing! I think that is because the people who have nothing in physical resources must share with their peers to make ends meet, which defaults them into radiant service.
I think we as humans have an innate knowledge that our potential is so much more than we have even dreamed of achieving. Even with all of our social and scientific achievements in the last 150 years, we have barely scratched the surface of our capabilities. We have a lot of work to do to correct the mess that we have made in the world, to do that we are going to have to achieve more than we have, both individually and collectively.
LikeLike