How to See the Greatness in Others

“Those who cannot feel the littleness of great things in themselves are apt to overlook the greatness of little things in others.” - Kazuko

Greatness. A huge, layered concept packed with implications and history. In your mind, what qualifies something as great? Is there a way to quantify it? Is greatness universal?

To many, greatness is a relative term. It depends who is doing it, what they are doing, and why they are doing it. For instance, the “greatness” achieved by a president is different, but no greater than, the “greatness” a grade school student can achieve. The way in which we each determine “greatness” says a lot about our unique perspective and our awareness of ourselves and the world around us. My definition of “great” could be completely different from yours. But at the end of the day, our ability to observe greatness in others comes down to one simple thing: our humility.

Kazuko’s quote illuminates how our degree of humbleness is directly related to the way in which we show respect and appreciation for the accomplishments of others. In putting our own accomplishments into perspective, we free up some mental and emotional capacity to become more aware of our peers. In this outward-looking state of mind, we can see how the achievement of others can positively influence us. When we are selfless and humble, we become attuned not only to the greatness in others, but the greatness in life, and in these moment, we are all grateful.