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I’ve always been a fan of personal development, lifestyle design and taking an intentional approach to your life.  But I’ve realized that the underbelly of self-improvement can be, well, self.  As human beings, our desire to become better people, can often be motivated by a desire to simply enhance our social position or financial status.

Cornel West, one of my favorite philosophers, and thinkers, always reminds us to remember “that cry of affliction“, and allowing it to inform your life’s work.  He acknowledges that the relationship between our careers and the plight of others may be complicated, but still recommends that its one that deserves attention.

What was he essentially getting at?  Well from what I gathered, he was highlighting the two forces at work in the hearts and minds of humanity for as long as historians have had ink, and before.  One reverting towards self, and the other leaning towards a life of selflessness.

Now don’t get me wrong, I do think that some of the core ingredients of lifestyle design:  intentionally structuring your life for more time freedom, the ability to earn a living doing what you love on your own terms, and to have the degree of mobility that you choose in your life, can all play an integral part in affording one the ability to orient themselves in such a way, where they can do more for others.  However, I think we can delude ourselves if we proceed with the idea of delaying soul growth for the immediate advantages of financial growth.  Where the plight of others is completely enshrouded by sustaining or advancing ones pursuits.

We risk what Cornel re-quotes in the video below, as “The catastrophe of success”.  What you are when you’re broke, time strapped, location dependent, may just be what you’ll be when you have all the cash, flexibility, and are gallivanting around the world.  I simply have tried not to do let my ambition compromise my ability to perceive what truly matters.

All this thought on success, and greatness, reminded me of a short verse in the book of Proverbs(4:7):

Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.

Here are a couple of highly relevant videos with Cornel West personifying someone who has pushed past simply existing for self, and has used his voracious intellect and empathic vision, in order to inspire others to think critically, question all assumptions, and to have the courage to differentiate between success and greatness. Enjoy!