I Believe In Man

　　估计很多人小时候和我一样，有一个模糊到梦想，那就是：我长大了要当一个科学家。如果特别有自信到孩子可能还会在“科学家”前面加一个重重到“大”字，虽然我们一直不知道科学家每天到具体工作是怎样的，但依然有一股莫名到渴望。直到自己一天天慢慢又飞快地长大，成了一个伪愤青，认为整个中国也没几个所谓到科学家，虽然可以成为一个所谓到“专家”，但已经不屑为之了。但仍希望自己可以在自己的领域里面成为一个大牛，即使意识到自己还只是一个小菜鸟。总而言之，我们都不认为我们自己会成为那么多庸庸碌碌到小人物中的一员。

　　我是个不相信命运到人。可是，经过了一些事，使得我突然意识到，自己是并且可能以后会一直是一个再平凡不过的人。在学术领域做一个拓荒者已经无望，甚至发几篇SCI的论文也是可望而不可及。在政坛中翻云覆雨、建立自己到乌托邦已是幻想，避免以后成为办公室政治到牺牲品才是正题。

　　我害怕了，我害怕自己会注定平凡的命运。

　　我害怕平凡，我拒绝命运。

下文转自：http://www.topachievement.com/articles/lenmcnally.html

If a man knows not what harbor he seeks,
any wind is the right wind.
-Seneca

 

I Believe In Man
by Len McNally

I have a deep and abiding belief that there lies within every person the capacity for greatness. I don't mean the old adage that you can become anything you want to be -- I'm more receptive to Peter F. Drucker's admonition to not "waste time trying to put in what the creator left out." But the potential of almost every person is far above his or her level of achievement. That so few rise to their potential does not in any way diminish the validity of this belief. We often see some obscure person rise apparently from nowhere to leadership of a cause or a movement, giving proof to the idea that this capacity lies dormant within each and every one of us.

We've been conditioned by life and by the authority figures we grew up with to recognize and accept ourselves as we are, with severe restrictions on our abilities. We were taught to accept our role and station in life without whining, that the ability to accept and endure our lot shows strength and character. So long as we are prepared to go through life accepting that which fate has thrust upon us as our ordained destiny, so too are we condemned, by our own resignation, our own self depreciation, to the ranks of mediocrity. Others may put me down but the choice to stay down is mine alone.

If we can find within ourselves the courage to challenge fate, to say to her and to the entire world, "I am not ordinary. I will not accept that it is my destiny to live out my life in a humdrum existence, doing things of little consequence, never dreaming, never daring to reach for more.", then we have forced open the door to, at least the possibility of greatness. Leadership writer Paul J. Meyers said, " there is in our world a vast storehouse of plenty which is approached by some with a steam shovel, by others with a tea spoon."

"What", you ask, "if I spend my entire life in pursuit of this fantastic dream yet never achieve it? I will feel robbed, cheated, let down, betrayed."

Who suffers the worse fate, the man who fights to no avail with every fibre of his being for that in which he truly believes or the man who spends his life whining, "I could have been a contender"? "Man's goals should exceed his grasp, else what's a heaven for." (Robert Browning )

Of all the peoples in the world we, who live in Canada and The United States -- countries built on and by the impossible dreams of men and women of vision and courage, determined to soldier on in the face of horrendous odds -- have the least excuse for believing in our limitations, for accepting our fate. With the hundreds of larger than life legends in our heritage, how can we dare to not believe in our own incredible potential?

All of us in North America, indeed throughout the world, must relearn this ability to "dream the impossible dream" and to bring to bear the necessary resources, belief, determination and courage to make our dreams come true.

I am the master of my fate. I am the captain of my soul.