They don’t always look bad. In fact, they usually look smart, strategic, and even admirable. But the danger is this: the more time we spend in them, the further we drift from what makes us whole.
I call them Greatness Traps.
What Is a Greatness Trap?
A Greatness Trap is a pattern that promises recognition, success, or significance, but quietly erodes your well-being, compromises your values, and keeps you from becoming the person you actually want to be.
Here are a few of the most common ones:
- Busy over Meaningful: Constant activity that gives the illusion of progress. Your calendar is full, but at the end of the day, you’re not sure what actually mattered.
- Image over Integrity: Projecting what others want to see instead of being who you are. You become a character you created to be liked, not someone you respect.
- More over Enough: Constant upgrading. Always wanting the next level. Satisfaction stays just out of reach.
The Fork in the Road
Each of these traps is a fork in the road. And while they may offer short-term benefits, they rarely offer long-term fulfillment.
The path of goodness doesn’t avoid greatness — it grounds it. And when you find yourself in a trap, it doesn’t mean you’ve failed. It means you have a choice: a chance to pause, reflect, and reorient back to what matters.
There are 17 Greatness Traps explored in Goodness over Greatness. You can explore all 17 on the Greatness Traps page, or take the quiz to discover which ones are most active in your life right now.
