The Pursuit of Excellence
The pursuit of excellence has been man's goal since time immemorial, and throughout history it is noticeable that man has been trying to improve and grow seeking for improvement and perfection in every aspect of his life and actions. We can see that in his daily endeavours and in the way he/she tries to face daily challenges through invention, tool upgrading and any kind of innovation. Interestingly, man’s progenitors i.e. Neanderthal and Homo sapiens already create their own tools in order to survive and adapt to their environment. Progress goes step by step and man’s efforts are targeting a higher level of achievement, including personal growth and a higher awareness about his social state and status.
The pursuit of excellence relates also to the Holy Scriptures, since in Matthieu (5:48) we read: “You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect”. (English standard version) Of course, here perfection refers to character and personality growth and perfection. The religious approach to perfection is then that of spirituality in combination with a higher awareness about the meaning of life, our understanding about God, and the fulfilment of our purpose in our earthly life. It is within our reach to achieve higher grounds, aspired by the willingness to develop our abilities, crafts, intellectual and emotional powers and above all our personality and character. To do that we have to be courageous and not be afraid of challenges and trials. “True perfection is a bold quest to seek. Only the willing and true of heart will seek the betterment of many.” Socrates. It is an innate trait of human nature to strive for excellence and perfection; not only in creative activities, but also in relation to our own condition of improvement and self-development. Good education can help people improve their skills and learn to achieve their goals in life, beyond their material needs and prospects.
Besides, human beings need competition and challenge in order to improve themselves and be willing to excel. In this way, a famous Greek proverb is very indicative and groundbreaking: “necessity is the mother of invention.” Necessity is to be seen as a challenge which offers motivation to overcome it and turn it into a success. The fact is that necessity can become the mother of invention. Ηοwever, in order to excel and thrive we also need to develop mental power and resilience. It’s because when you set high standards you need to work hard to achieve them, and of course never compromise when things get tough, but develop a spirit of absolute determination and toughness. We should never accept mediocrity and sub-standards as satisfactory goals or achievements. We need a strong, relentless character with a positive attitude and thoughts. The pursuit of excellence should necessarily include the aspect of character and personality and not only the pursuit of success and financial achievements. This part will come as a logical extension of maturity and personal development, following all the social aspects that includes.“My meaning simply is that whatever I have tried to do in life, I have tried with all my heart to do well. That whatever I have devoted myself to, I have devoted myself to completely. That in great aims and in small, I have always been thoroughly in earnest.” – Charles Dickens
Furthermore, we should have the right perspective of human perfection, growth and excellence and be willing to pursue it on a daily basis as part of our life objective. To achieve that, we should invest all our heart and will so that it becomes a joyful and enthusiastic journey. We have to make excellence a way of life. The Greek philosopher Aristotle once said that, “Excellence is not a simple act, but a habit.” We should be determined to go the extra mile and show our persistence and endurance. On our way to reach higher grounds in life, we often make mistakes, encounter failure, experience disappointment and frustration and face unpredictable or unforeseen difficulties. Do we give up and change our priorities and goals? “Desire is the key to motivation, but it's determination and commitment to an unrelenting pursuit of your goal - a commitment to excellence - that will enable you to attain the success you seek.’’ Mario Andretti When a storm comes, the good captain has to prove his capabilities and carry on in order to bring his ship to a safe harbour.
Finally, we need wisdom and ethics, a moral code to be our guide in life. We need human values that are being taught in family and school and need to be applied along the way to reach perfection and excellence in life. As we practise and apply those values, we experience growth and a sense of achievement that empowers us to continue in order to reach our goals in life.
