When others see you have gone beyond the minimum requirements, you might expect some positive notice. But all too often, it brings negative feed back.
When you let your light shine, some friends celebrate the event, others tell you to knock it off. It's hard for people to enjoy the light that shines on your achievements when it casts a shadow on theirs.
Some reasons for this are legitimate. A higher level of excellence and effort may draw the attention of those in authority. Bosses may then require everyone to put out more and better work, all the while leaving the pay grade and working conditions the same.
Don't expect a lot of appreciation if that happens.
Some folks have a life strategy based on the philosophy of doing as little as possible, learning as little as possible, and thinking as little as possible. Passing folks that travel in the slow lanes of life's freeway makes them angry. They don't want to speed up, so they insist that you slow down.
It is an important life skill to live in peace with those around us. Maybe our moments of excellence should be celebrated in private with those who we feel might appreciate it. The "Pearls before swine" parable comes to mind. Pearls are better than garbage. But you'll never convince certain creatures to share your esteem of their value.
Another parable presents another option. We could let our light shine in this dark world regardless of the commotion and negativity that it produces. Why hide a light under a bushel basket? Put it up high. The light will attract some bugs and complaints. But it may lead others to a better path. Just don't expect a lot of "thank-you's" right away when you flip on the switch of excellence.
