“There is one great danger in human nature, viz. that man never examines himself. He thinks he is quite as fit to be on the throne as the king. Even if he is, he must first show that he has done the duty of his own position; and then higher duties will come… No man can long occupy satisfactorily a position for which he’s not fit.”
— Swami Vivekananda
We’re kept awake at night by questions like, “Why don’t I get promoted?” Or “Why don’t my friends or family respect me?” If we could only understand that we don’t get anything that we don’t deserve. You will not be handed a promotion or respect; you have to earn it. In our minds, though, we’re sure we’ve earned them already, right?
Here’s the thing: it’s easy to spot flaws in others, but almost impossible to spot them in ourselves. We delude ourselves into believing that we’re immune to them. This delusion makes us do the very things we condemn or things that make others respect us less.
Never think you’ve reached a level where you can dictate terms to life. Always have a little doubt — whether you’re a parent, family member, worker, friend, or partner. A little self-doubt makes you better while shallow confidence drives you off a cliff.
Better things will come when you become worthy of them.