A THOUGHT FOR NOW - BE CAREFUL ABOUT TAKING YOURSELF TOO SERIOUS!

Behind all the grand uniform and badges, etc, etc, is the common nakedness of us humans, and we should avoid taking ourselves too seriously.

Us humans most probably take ourselves, as we do our lives, much too seriously. Many of us attach too much self-importance to ourselves and our positions in living, sometimes thinking or behaving as if we are indispensable, and as if the world would stop on its axis, if we were not around. Wrong! However person-specific are the good deeds we do or might have done, had we been given the opportunity, it was always going to be only for a limited period of time.  And certainly not beyond the tenure of our living  and ability to perform the roles and duties we are carrying out, and doing so competently.  

Far from giving rise to a situation whereby the world, or the business would cease to exist, if we were not around or occupying the position we are holding, there are times when we are actually holding back the progress of the business or country. And here, I cannot resist the temptation to site megalomaniacs like Robert Mugabe and other career leaders whose efficiency and effectiveness as leaders have long since expired, if it ever existed at all. Thereby resulting in these megalomaniacs having become a grievous liability to their countries and people, which, selfishly, they are attempting to literally take to the grave with them.

Endeavour to get as full a perspective as you are able to, before forming your final decision.

Whereas the fictitious emperor assumed that he was fully clothed, until the child rudely, but probably mercifully drew his attention to the fact that he was actually naked, it is the reverse of this which we should be aiming for. In other words, when we are feeling that we are indispensable and cannot be replaced, when we are feeling too self-important, and that it is only us and nobody else who can manage this or that business, or do the job we are doing, or be the leader of this organisation, or the Prime Minister or President of this country, it is then that we should imagine our selves naked, divested of our clothes, our uniform, our badge of office. 

It is then that we should laugh at our pompous and presumptive selves, and exercise humility and prudence.  Which should enable us to be aware of the harm we are doing, occupying key positions of leadership, when there are more capable and competent men and women who could and would do a much better job them we are doing, or are likely to do. Especially as our occupation of such positions, can only be to the detriment of the people, organisation or country we should be serving.

This is especially the message for the Robert Mugabes of this world.

Endeavour to enjoy your living and get as much pleasure as you can out of it, but take care that you do not take yourself too seriously and do consider avoiding positions which others are much better suited to perform competently than you are, as it could mean that you are depriving a lot of people of the benefits which those others could have wrought; had it not been for your stance.

Look at me; was I not great, but, alas, I am not dead and have been replaced, because such is the natural fate of humans!