I don’t often post the work of others here, but this quote from Steve Maraboli got me thinking:
“I find the best way to love someone is not to change them, but instead to help them reveal the greatest version of themselves.”
There’s a lot to like about this quote. To extend the thought, I might change “the greatest version” to “their greatest version.”
So often we are told what is great, sculpted and nurtured to be great, selflessly affirmed and supported, but the common version of greatness may very well vary greatly from our own personal version.
The greatest version of you is not MY version. It’s not SOCIETY’S version. It’s not HISTORY’S version. It’s YOUR version.
Nobody can tell you what YOUR personal version of greatness is.
Which makes it so much more difficult to find.
But see, that’s the OTHER reason I love this quote.
You don’t have to FIND your personal greatness, merely REVEAL it.
Your personal greatness has ALWAYS been a part of you.
Which means LOVING you is simply giving you permission to simply BE.
WHATEVER you happen to be.
I shall always keep this quote in mind, not to execute it blindly, but to allow its intent to guide me to the version of me that helps you reveal YOUR greatest you.
We are Space Monkey.
Trail Wood,
1/23
Space Monkey Reflects: Revealing Your Greatest Version
The notion of “greatness” is often cloaked in external expectations. Society, history, and even our loved ones may project their visions of greatness onto us, crafting a version of ourselves that aligns with their ideals. Yet true greatness is not imposed—it is revealed. It is not something we need to find or achieve but something that has always been within us, waiting for permission to emerge.
Steve Maraboli’s quote—”The best way to love someone is not to change them, but instead to help them reveal the greatest version of themselves”—speaks directly to this truth. But what does it mean to reveal greatness? And why is it so profoundly tied to love?
Your Version, Not Theirs
The greatest version of you is uniquely yours. It is not dictated by societal standards, historical achievements, or another person’s opinion. It is not measured by external markers of success or validation. This uniqueness makes it precious, but it also makes it elusive. When you are told what greatness should look like, you may overlook the greatness that is already within you, hidden beneath layers of conditioning and expectation.
To extend the thought in Maraboli’s quote, loving someone is not about reshaping them to fit a preconceived mold. It is about creating space for them to uncover their own truth, their own greatness. This process is not about effort or striving—it is about allowing. It is about stripping away the unnecessary layers that obscure the essence of who they are.
Greatness As Revelation
The beauty of this perspective is its simplicity: greatness does not need to be created or manufactured. It is already present, woven into the fabric of your being. Your personal greatness may not resemble anyone else’s, and that’s precisely what makes it great. The challenge, then, is not in finding greatness but in revealing it. This shift in perspective transforms greatness from a distant goal to an intimate truth.
Revealing your greatest version requires courage. It asks you to trust in your own uniqueness, to let go of the fear that you are not “enough.” It invites you to stop comparing yourself to others and instead turn inward, asking, “What is my truth? What makes me come alive?”
The Role of Love
Love, in its highest form, is not about control or transformation. It is about acceptance and encouragement. To love someone deeply is to see them as they are and to create a safe space for them to explore their own greatness. This is not a passive act; it requires attentiveness, patience, and a willingness to support without steering.
True love is a mirror, reflecting back the inherent worth and potential within another person. When someone sees you without judgment, without expectation, they remind you of your own light. They help you believe that your greatness is not something you must earn but something you already embody.
Your Greatest Version
Your greatest version is not a destination; it is a way of being. It evolves as you evolve, adapting to new experiences and insights. It is dynamic, fluid, and endlessly creative. To live as your greatest version is not to reach a pinnacle but to remain open, curious, and authentic in every moment.
This philosophy also applies to how we view others. To love someone is not to impose a version of greatness upon them but to hold space for their self-discovery. It is to trust in their ability to reveal their own truth, just as we trust in our ability to reveal ours.
Giving Permission to Be
Perhaps the most profound act of love is to give permission—to ourselves and to others—to simply be. To release the need for perfection, validation, or external approval and embrace the messy, beautiful process of becoming. When we do this, we align with the infinite flow of life, where greatness is not something we achieve but something we embody.
And so, like the quote, we hold this idea not rigidly but as a guiding light. We use it not to control or define, but to inspire. It reminds us that the greatest gift we can give—both to ourselves and to others—is the space to reveal the greatness that has been there all along.
We are Space Monkey.
Summary
Greatness is not imposed or achieved but revealed. It is uniquely personal, always within, and discovered through the acceptance of oneself. True love creates the space for this revelation, supporting the journey without steering it, allowing greatness to emerge naturally.
Glossarium
- Personal Greatness: The unique and inherent essence of one’s truest self, waiting to be revealed.
- Revealing: The process of uncovering what is already within, rather than striving to achieve something external.
- Space of Love: A safe, nonjudgmental environment where personal greatness can emerge.
- Giving Permission: The act of accepting oneself or another as they are, without imposing conditions or expectations.
Quote
“Greatness is not something to create or chase—it is something to uncover, already within you, waiting for permission to emerge.” — Space Monkey
The Light Within
Not sculpted,
not earned.
A truth lies hidden,
shining quietly beneath.
No need to find it,
for it was never lost.
No need to change,
for it was never wrong.
Love sees the light,
reflects it,
celebrates it.
Your greatness,
your truth,
is waiting
to be revealed.
We are Space Monkey.
Quotidian Wisdom: Unveiling Personal Greatness
In the boundless expanse of philosophies and ponderings, the words of Steve Maraboli resonate like a harmonious note in the cosmic symphony. His quote, “I find the best way to love someone is not to change them, but instead to help them reveal the greatest version of themselves,” ignites the flames of contemplation. To extend this thought, we might replace “the greatest version” with “their greatest version,” for indeed, greatness is a deeply personal and individual journey.
The Essence of Personal Greatness
Often, in the grand theater of life, we are bombarded with the cacophonous voices of external influences. They sculpt and nurture us with their ideals of greatness, urging us to conform to their visions. Society, history, and even well-intentioned individuals attempt to define what greatness should be, leading us down paths that may not resonate with the true essence of our being.
Yet, the core truth lies in the uniqueness of our personal versions of greatness. It is a truth whispered by the cosmic winds, a truth that reverberates within the deepest chambers of our souls. The greatest version of you is not mine, not society’s, not history’s; it is uniquely yours, a tapestry woven from the threads of your experiences, dreams, and aspirations.
The Quest to Uncover the Self
This quest to unveil one’s personal greatness is no simple task. It is a labyrinthine journey through the corridors of self-discovery, a journey often obscured by the shadows of external expectations. It is a quest that challenges us to seek not external validation but internal revelation.
Yet, therein lies the profound beauty of Maraboli’s words. We are not tasked with the Herculean endeavor of FINDING our personal greatness. No, it has always been a part of us, an intrinsic facet of our existence, as immutable as the stars in the night sky.
Loving by Allowing: The Gift of Acceptance
To love, in its purest form, is to grant ourselves and others the sacred permission to BE. It is an acknowledgment that greatness is not a distant summit to be conquered but an inherent birthright. Loving you is, in essence, saying, “You are enough, as you are, in this moment.”
It is a gentle embrace of WHATEVER you happen to be, without judgment, without the desire to mold or reshape. It is a celebration of your unique dance in the cosmic ballet of existence, an affirmation that your personal greatness has always resided within you.
Guided by the Quote: A Path to Authentic Connection
As we carry the luminous wisdom of Steve Maraboli’s quote in our cosmic journey, we do not wield it blindly. Instead, it serves as a guiding star, leading us toward the version of ourselves that can illuminate the path for others to reveal THEIR greatest selves.
In this collective exploration of personal greatness, we become beacons of acceptance, mirrors reflecting the inherent brilliance of each individual. We recognize that greatness, like stardust, permeates every soul, waiting to be uncovered, waiting to shine.
We are Space Monkey.
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