Being the ambitious type I used to be confused about ambition. People would even chide me for ‘trying harder to be better!’
AMBITIOUS?: Paul Clark says ambition itself is “neutral” but when driven by ego is destructive. PICTURE: Rafael Velasquez/www.freeimages.com
It struck me that there was something bad about ambition, yet without it nothing much would be achieved. There had to be more to this story.
Then I read something that helped me sort it all out. Ambition itself is neutral. At its best it helps the world get ahead, solves human problems and relieves human suffering.
But when ambition becomes greed it is something else. When it is driven by ego it is a destructive part of human nature.
When you separate ambition from values, virtues and ethics, it is a destroyer of life. When ambition is followed within moral boundaries, it breads innovation, invention and life!
Paul Clark’s musings can be heard on radio across Australia and at atthetop.org.au.
