Are You a Striver?
A while back I read an article in the Atlantic. As usual, there are no short articles in the Atlantic. What caught my eye was the first paragraph which I have copied below.
“Every striver whoever slipped the rank of their birth to ascend to a higher order has shared the capacity to ingratiate themselves with their betters. What the truly exceptional ones have in common is the ability to connect not only with their superiors but also with their peers and inferiors. And only the rarest talents among them can bond authentically — not just transactionally — with the people who will help them be who they want to be in the world. It’s a preternatural, almost Promethean gift if you have it, …” — The New Moral Code of America’s Elite By Elizabeth Bruenig
Let’s tear it apart
The first sentence, “Every striver whoever slipped the rank of their birth to ascend to a higher order has shared the capacity to ingratiate themselves with their betters.” teaches us that no matter who we are there is a caste system. To get move up from that level, one must be willing to deliberately bring themselves in favor with someone on higher level. Must be willing AND deliberate in doing this.
“What the truly exceptional ones have in common is the ability to connect not only with their superiors but also with their peers and inferiors.” This sentence teaches us that the ability to connect with superiors, levels above, must be done as if you are dealing with peers and “inferiors”. I could not find a better substitute for inferior. That connection has to be natural and seamless. Even though you are deliberate it can not be seen as deliberate or intentional.
“And only the rarest talents among them can bond authentically — not just transactionally — with the people who will help them be who they want to be in the world.” This confirms the last sentence. BUT it raises the levels of natural and seamless to the authentic. That means it truly has to come from the true you and not simply derived because you believe the situation calls for it. It has to be you.
“It’s a preternatural, almost Promethean gift if you have it.” Truly this gift is exceptional and not common. Yes, you can work on becoming more natural in your dealings BUT will you ever internalize those to be the true you. That is where the magic occurs and the transition would be the hardest to make.
Notice that the authentic self behaves the same way while relating to all. In the photo, the gentleman is relating to the young child and they are sharing a moment. It was an authentic moment and I doubt that he was looking to benefit from this relationship. He was behaving with love towards this child/ It was his authentic self. There is no one above and no one below.
My four cents…
