Curse or Bliss

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Many people are blessed with the gift of being a leader. They have an innate charm and a knack for approaching and gathering people into a collective. The point is that people with this talent should use it to perform good deeds and improve society because history has shown us that some used it to bring evil and death all over the world, like the most famous, Adolf Hitler.

On the other hand, some don’t have that leadership talent at all but insist on trying to be leaders. And the result is, as one can expect, catastrophic. Also, in this case, history has provided us with suitable examples. For example, in Greece, Giorgos Papandreou, the party leader of PASOK and Prime Minister, instead of doing reformations, deepened the financial crisis and brought the IMF to Greece. (Here, I must mention that some Prime Ministers didn’t make the necessary reformations before and after him for fear of the political cost. And the one who finally drew the short straw was Alexis Tsipras.)

Of course, there’s the option of someone having that special leader gift but cleverly renouncing taking over the leadership or not daring to, as it is not everyone’s cup of tea to take on that massive burden of responsibility.

Other skills a leader needs, which can be learned and trained, is the ability to work in a team and be open to criticism. Even a leader can continually improve themself. To round up the capabilities, the last and most important thing that makes a good leader is sharing the praise and applause and, in the worst case, taking over the blame alone.

So, one may wonder if being a leader is a curse or bliss.

4 responses to “Curse or Bliss”

  1. Willie Torres Jr. Avatar
    Willie Torres Jr.

    True leadership reflects Christ’s servant heart, leading with humility, wisdom, and sacrifice. It can be both a blessing and a burden, but with God’s guidance, it is always an opportunity to serve others faithfully.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. papadosshortstories Avatar

      😊👍

      Liked by 2 people

  2. SRIKANTH Avatar

    What a thoughtful and nuanced reflection on the nature of leadership. You’ve beautifully captured the profound duality at its heart—that leadership is not merely a position, but a sacred covenant between talent, character, and circumstance.

    Your comment reminds us that leadership is a gift, a skill, and a burden, all at once. It is a gift of charisma and connection, which can be a force for immense good or unspeakable evil, depending on the moral compass of the one who wields it. It is a skill that can be honed—through teamwork, humility, and the courage to accept criticism. And it is a burden—a weight of responsibility so immense that the wise may rightly choose not to shoulder it.

    You pose the essential question: Is it a curse or a bliss? Perhaps the truest answer is that it is a choice. It is the choice to use one’s influence to build up or to break down. It is the choice to step forward with competence or to step aside with wisdom. It is the choice, as you so poignantly put it, to share the light of success and stand alone in the shadow of failure.

    Your historical examples underscore a powerful truth: leadership divorced from integrity, competence, and courage is not leadership at all—it is a vacuum that draws in chaos. Conversely, when these elements align, leadership becomes one of humanity’s highest callings—a bliss not for the leader’s glory, but for the collective uplift.

    Ultimately, your reflection suggests that true leadership is neither curse nor bliss, but a solemn privilege. It is the privilege to guide, to protect, and to serve. Whether it becomes a blessing or a tragedy depends entirely on the heart and hands of the one who accepts the charge.

    Thank you for this insightful perspective. It’s a reminder that we should all be discerning—both about who we choose to follow, and about whether we ourselves are truly prepared to lead.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. papadosshortstories Avatar

      Thank you, Srikanth, for reading and commenting. I always appreciate your inspiring comments. 😊

      Like

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