Open Your Eyes with McKay Christensen S2E21 - The Dichotomy of Greatness
We all have greatness within us. And we all navigate through life searching for it, trying to embrace our greatest strengths, and striving to become the best version of ourselves. But life is filled with irony, paradox, and dichotomy. And when we can embrace the dichotomy of greatness, that’s when we’ll be able to live our life to the fullest. The dichotomy of greatness is what leads us to greatness; we see it all around us – the most talented athletes, the world’s greatest leaders, and even in our closest friends. It shows us that we can’t be great until we accept that we’re also small. When we can step away from one side of life’s dichotomies and adopt a new view, only then can we find the secret to greatness.
In this week’s episode, McKay dives deep into the dichotomy of greatness and how it can help us learn and grow. He shares some of the most inspiring stories of the world’s greatest people, from Muhammad Ali and Og Mandino to his courageous friend Jeff and his family members. He tells us about Ali’s rise to greatness and how he became a hero in the eyes of the public. Then, McKay shares his own personal experience with the dichotomy of greatness as well as a few other lessons to learn from life’s dichotomies. He finishes off the episode by explaining why taking the long view is the way to achieve hope and greatness in life.
The Finer Details of This Episode:
- Muhammad Ali’s inspiring lessons on greatness
- The strange and beautiful dichotomy of life
- Learning and growing by embracing life’s dichotomies
- The Greatest Miracle in the World
- Taking the long view
Quotes:
“Isn't that how life is? We travel a road in life only to learn the lesson that we should have learned all along. Life is filled with irony, paradox and dichotomy.”
“I believe that God gives us these opposites, these dichotomies to help us learn and grow. It is in the contrast of things that we find the profound. It is the paradoxical that allow us to open our eyes to a new view. Without the opposite, the dichotomy, we couldn’t see in new ways who we are and what we can become.”
“As the saying goes: if you are not willing to learn, no one can help you; if you are determined to learn, no one can stop you.”
“The truth is that we all have an invisible talisman. We can choose to embrace the greatness within us.”
“To find greatness in the midst of dichotomy requires an unwavering patience that most people don’t or can’t sustain. Greatness requires the long view.”
“Remember, greatness is waiting for you as you navigate the dichotomies of life. And if you will open your eyes to see things from both sides, lead with adaptability, learn all you can and to recognize you are the greatest, the greatest miracle in the world, just watch, you will find greatness in your life and the lives of those around you.”
Links:
The Greatest Miracle in the World by Og Mandino
Success Through a Positive Mental Attitude by W. Clement Stone and Napoleon Hill