Which perspective empowers you?

There was a famous man who did many great things. After he died, they told stories glorifying him, painting him as flawless. But one story said he was not as great as he seemed — saying he was actually very flawed.

A young boy really looked up to this hero. The glorifying stories inspired him by showing him a role model of greatness. The boy worked as hard as he could and held himself to that high standard every day. But when he heard the disparaging story, his pursuit was no longer whole-hearted, and he became aimless.

A different boy never liked that famous man. The glorifying stories discouraged him because they set an impossible standard. So when he heard the disparaging story, he got inspired. “If that jerk can do it, anyone can.” This mindset made him work harder than ever to surpass the great bastard.

The two boys are a metaphor for your own internal incentives. It applies to stories of all types. Are you more inspired to think you’ve arrived, or have a long way to go? Does it help you to believe people can or can’t be trusted? Do you like to see your life as shaped by destiny or chance? Which story helps you do what you need to do, be who you want to be, or feel at peace?

You don’t need to decide which one is right. You can use one meaning to get you out of bed, and another to sleep well at night. Which meaning leads to the actions you need now?