Key Point: We all have confrontations with the positive and negative pull related to The Seven Dragons. This is the fourth and last blog of the “Dragon Series” (review the last three blogs if you need to catch yourself up).
GREED
The Greed Dragon can inspire people to achieve more, improve themselves, think big and get things done. The negative pull of Greed can lead to an insatiable appetite for “more, more, more,” and ironically, miserliness. Because of our concern that we will never be full enough, and/or we might lose everything, we can never have enough. We just keep filing our pockets and faces.
SELF-DESTRUCTION
On a positive note, this dragon can compel one to make sacrifices for the benefit of others, and put other’s needs ahead of their own. This can be an exceptional leadership trait, especially when nourished with genuine generosity. However, when pulled into the fear associated with this Dragon, we get into a personal danger-zone very quickly. The scary part is this fear is based on the self-belief that you are unworthy of success and the rationalization that you will not succeed. Hence, the Dragon of Self-Destruction sets us up for the failure that we think we deserve. If we have a fear that we don’t deserve success or are unworthy, we consciously or subconsciously can self-sabotage relationships, careers; you name it.
Character Moves:
- Face Greed. We should remind ourselves that while it’s ok to aspire for more, it is also very important to be content that we are good enough as to who we uniquely are. Getting better and relentlessly improving is compatible with appreciating our self-worth and esteem. Be content that you are sufficient while enjoying a reasonable pursuit of wanting more to experience and enjoy. Know enough about yourself to feel full while embracing the beauty of a growth mindset.
- Face Self-Destruction. You and I are worthy and deserve unreserved self-respect. When things are going well, and we’re succeeding, it’s an invitation to enjoy the ride. Of course, we will eventually hit rocky and difficult times. We will earn those challenges honestly by staying the course of success. Why worry that somehow we can’t sustain “perfection” and subsequently cause ourselves to self-destruct? In its extreme form, self-destruction has an ugly ending: We potentially lose dignity, self-respect and the joy that comes with continuous (not perfect) progress. We can hit rock bottom… Hard. Think big, be big, and know you’re worthy of every positive thing you accomplish. Nothing is permanent, so what if success fades? Who is the only really important judge of success? You.
- Thank you for participating in the “Dragon Series.” Try and remember that facing our fears head-on is step No.1 in making them work for us. Then, we need to courageously run directly towards our fears. Often, we find out our fear is a “False Expectation Appearing Real.” It turns and heads for the hills when we know it, confront it and stare it down.
Positive Fear in The Triangle,
Lorne
One Millennial View: As a Millennial, I probably haven’t really seen much “Greed” yet. Real greed. Maybe I don’t even know what it looks like. In some ways, it’s a unicorn. It’s that thing many of us complain about, or label people we don’t know with because we envision them in ivory towers we’ve heard about on the news. I doubt I’ve truly seen “real” greed in real life yet. But, unlike what we dream up Greed to look like, we don’t need to hop on a PJ and land on the grass of an oil tycoon/weapons dealer/real estate mogul’s privately owned island to see self-destruction. In fact, sometimes self-destruction seems dangerously close. There are lots of “acceptable” excuses out there to do nothing, to stand still. Sometimes apathy is considered cool. For a timely example, there are probably Halloween gatherings out there specifically for people who want to celebrate being too lazy to drum up costumes. “No costume Halloween parties” they probably call them… Frankly, it’ll go off without a hitch for them, and that’s ok. But for me, no thanks. I want to keep staying the course of success, and while I’ll be winning no “best costume” contests, I’ll dress up anyways; it’s better than bringing nothing to the table. Have a Happy and safe Halloween.
– Garrett Rubis
Edited and published by Garrett Rubis