So often in life, we stay stuck, not because something is bad, but because it is good. Bad moves us. Bad brings discomfort. Bad ignites pain. Bad breeds unhappiness. Bad promotes movement through suffering. Whereas good promotes stagnation through ‘comfort’.
We move forward when something is awful because we can feel ourselves depleting, our energy draining. But what if we could move before we got to this point? What if we moved not because we had to, but because we wanted to? Not because life was bad, but instead because it was good? What keeps us trapped in the familiar pond of goodness when we could swim towards greatness? Is it that we don’t believe that greatness exists, or perhaps if it does, that it’s just not meant for us? Or is it that, deep down, we don’t believe that we are worthy of great?
Because if we had a great partner, great friends, a fulfilling career, family, and a remarkable life, how would we cope with it all? Who would we be without something to fix, complain about, or suffer through? Isn’t that all we know? Who could we possibly become if we cleared the path for greatness?
It begs the question: do we subconsciously put up walls to block our own path? And what is it that makes us feel safer to build and maintain walls instead of tearing them down and giving ourselves a clear run? Or are we scared of that very predicament?
What is it that scares us so much about our own potential?
Why are we hard-wired this way? Is it conditioning, our upbringing, or the environments we find ourselves in that make us settle? Does it feel easier to stay here than to want more? And where do we mistake gratitude for complacency?
I often reflect on the narratives we tell ourselves.
- “Nobody likes their job.”
- “Everyone complains about their spouse.”
- “Everyone wishes that they had more money.”
- “I am happy enough.”
But is enough, really enough? Or do we just keep ourselves in environments that teach us that, because it gives us the illusion of safety and comfort? Or is that perceived safety and comfort just a smokescreen? A smokescreen that stops us reaching higher. Because why live a good life when we could live a great one?
Greatness is subjective.
“Great” looks different for everyone; different strokes for different folks. One person’s joy is another person’s misery. But have you ever asked yourself, what does greatness look like for you? Can you allow your mind to go there, even momentarily? And if not, what blocks you?
Dreaming, visualising, imagining, whatever you call it, will always show us where we are blocking ourselves. Because if we can’t dream it, we can’t be it. Even attempting to dream gives us clues about the wall(s) we have subconsciously built that hold us back. But if we can identify them, we can start the work to bring them down.
Time to reflect.
It begs the question, is good the enemy of great? Is good a pacifier? And is good good enough for you?
The tough pill to swallow is that great is often not possible without giving up good. And to give up good takes guts. It takes determination. It takes grit. It takes self-belief. But most importantly, it takes high self-worth. Because greatness only finds its way to people who believe they are worthy of it.
So rather than working on semantics, work on worth. Worth opens the right doors. Worth closes those that are misaligned. Worth strips both bad and good from your existence. Worth builds loving homes, amazing friendships, nourishing relationships, and unstoppable teams. Worth builds dreams. Because you can only become a magnet for greatness when you, too, exhibit it. Greatness doesn’t come from fine, okay, or enough. Greatness is a choice.
Letting go comes with grief.
The process of giving up good is challenging, confronting, and deeply uncomfortable. We will continue to question our sanity, our choices, and ultimately why. Because greatness doesn’t arrive overnight. It arrives in the becoming. The process of stripping good from every aspect of our lives creates the space and internal foundation for greatness to build upon.
So, ask yourself, are you willing to give up good for great? Do you believe you are worthy? And what will you regret more when you reach the end, pursuing your version of greatness or living for good enough? Greatness is possible. Worthiness teamed with action is key. A key that you hold inside you. But the question is, will you use it?
Ready to move from good to great, for yourself, your team, or your organisation? Here’s how we can help:
- Follow me, Natalie Neilson, on Instagram/TikTok/LinkedIn/Substack/YouTube. Tune into my podcast, The Power of You (Available on Apple/Spotify podcasts) or sign up for my emails: https://natalieneilson.com/
- Enquire about speaking/workshops
- 1:1 growth sessions (limited)
- Coaching approaches at scale for your teams and organisation through TTM Coaching: https://ttmcoaching.com/. You can also follow TTM Coaching on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube
DM me or email for more info: Nataliej@ttmcoaching.com