How This 19th Century Quote Challenges My Purpose

 

I read a quote that I just cannot shake.

It’s one that makes me explore myself and then question myself.

I prefer happy quotes that I can say are true of myself. Ones that make be feel good about myself.

Not this one.

The quote comes from Soren Kierkegaard who was an 19th century Danish philosopher, theologian, poet, social critic and religious author who is widely considered to be the first existentialist philosopher.

He wrote critical texts on organized religion, Christendom, morality, ethics, psychology and the philosophy of religion, displaying a fondness for metaphor, irony and parables.

Much of his philosophical work deals with the issues of how one lives as a “single individual”, giving priority to concrete human reality over abstract thinking and highlighting the importance of personal choice and commitment.

He was only 42 when he died but what a legacy of writing he left behind including this powerful quote:

“There is nothing with which every man is so afraid as getting to know how enormously much he is capable of doing and becoming.”

Did you catch it? Here it is again…

“There is nothing with which every man is so afraid as getting to know how enormously much he is capable of doing and becoming.”

Here is a breakdown of the quote:

There is nothing with which every man is so afraid as getting to know…

Most of us simply don’t like being alone with our thoughts. Why? Isn’t there so much gain in deep thinking?

It’s not something we’re comfortable with for a couple of reasons:

• it requires us to be still and actually think
• we’re concerned of what we will find

And since most of us just live our lives one day into another week which blends into another month and until we say, “where did all the years go…?”, we simply don’t think about our lives let alone deeply.

This quote challenged me to really think about my life. I don’t want to be afraid getting to know myself through my thoughts.

Is this true of you?

How enormously much he is capable of doing…

The two words “enormously much” are heavy.

The word “much” you would think is big enough compared to the average person.

But Kierkegaard adds the powerful adjective of “enormously.” That could scare a person who lives a safe life.

I’m done with a safe life.

It’s predictable, comfortable, un-impactful, and, well, average. Been there. Done with that.

Don’t you want to be known for how “enormously much” you’ve been capable of doing? And even more, what you actually do?

This kind of quote challenges me big time but is also motivates me to get beyond my fears and step up. Are you with me?

and becoming

Our world focuses almost solely on what we accomplish and that alone. Most rest our entire success on what we do.

And there is SO much good in what we do.

But who we become is so much bigger and deeper.

And this is scary. It takes deep thought and searching inside of which most are just unwilling to do.

This quote challenges us that it’s also who we become.

Who you become is the core of who you are.

And if done correctly, who you become is a pre-requisite for what you do.

And in the end, the best results of what you do flow out of who you’ve become.

Closing Thoughts…

Your purpose is just that, YOUR purpose. Someone else can help you discover it. They may have a feeling this is what you’re called to do.

And they can help you develop your purpose. But in the end, only you can do your actual purpose.

Are you wiling to do the pre-work in discovering your purpose by being willing to “get to know how enormously much you’re capable of doing and becoming?”

My hope for you as a motivated, busy professional is you will take the time in your thoughts to not be afraid of what you find but use it to challenge and motivate you to become that person. To live life on purpose.

Create the Think Space to wrestle with quotes like this one to describe and develop your purpose and your potential. It’s worth every moment of thought.

Closing Question…

What are you going to do with this powerful and challenging quote?