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I’ve been thinking about the way people react to the lessons that I share, and also the way I have seen people speak of and react to other people, both famous and not, who are trying to make the world a better place by sharing their knowledge and feelings with the world. There’s often a lot of resistance, and a lot of that seems to come from a false belief that any of us thinks we’re better than anyone else out there.
I’ve been called “elitist”, and I’ve seen other people called that as well as “superior”, “holier than thou” and other such insulting terms. Now I’ll grant you that there are some people out there sharing things for selfish purposes and they do look down on others, but they’re in the minority. Most of us really and truly want to better ourselves and the world around us to the best of our ability. We don’t think we’re better than anyone. I know I certainly don’t.
Until recently, I actually found it difficult to express how I really think about this. I would have said “I’m better” simply for lack of more accurate words. Thankfully, a more true way of explaining it has come to me, and I hope that I can express it to a point that people finally understand where I , and others like me, are actually coming from.
I don’t see myself as better than anyone, only further along on my evolutionary path than some. (Meaning spiritual and personal evolution/growth.) I’ve been through a lot and I’ve learned many lessons. I’m learning every day. I’m at a certain point on my evolutionary path. Some people are ahead of me, some are behind, and some are walking alongside. I want to help the people that I see behind me, based on my perspective.
I don’t look at those people thinking “I’m better than you. I’m here and you’re back there, so you’re not good enough.” I think “I’m here, and you’re back there, how can I help you get up here? Do you need a hand? An encouraging word? You’re not here yet, but you can make it!” I want everyone to be progressing along their own evolutionary path, and I’ll do whatever I can to help them. No matter what anyone thinks, I feel it’s my soul’s purpose, and I’ll keep doing it. I can’t abide a stagnant life.
And I’ll never begrudge anyone who surpasses me on that evolutionary path. They’re not better than me, they’re just further along. Whether I helped them get ahead or not, I believe that if someone’s further than me, at some point they’re going to look over their shoulder, see me there, and reach out a hand with a smile and say “You’re not here yet, but you can make it!”
And the truth is, we all fall down as we’re traveling. Even the greatest teachers fall down, make mistakes, and have to learn and grow. It just gives them new lessons to teach. They don’t become less or inferior for their faults or failures, so long as they dust themselves off and keep going. The point is not to ever be “better” or “superior” to anyone else, it’s to be your best self and try to help others do the same.
