Many of us want to dream big and to achieve big things in life. We want to leave a crater-sized impact on this world once we inevitably leave this planet. We want to do good and fight for things that we believe in. We want to live for a purpose that is simply bigger than oneself.
Those traits are obviously admirable in a person. There is absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to fight for a mission that is larger than life. And there are quite many missions that we can latch onto in this world. Because this world is flawed and there are so many problems out there to deal with. Solving one simply creates another. And on and on it goes.
I, myself, also want to do good. And I humbly commend myself for that. I want to volunteer at soup kitchens. I want to give back to the community. I want to donate my time, energy, and resources to causes that I believe in. And I want to make sure that I leave the world a little bit better than before every single day. At the end of the day, I too want to leave my mark on this world. I too want to make an impact in some form or fashion.
At the end of the day, though, does this world really need saving? And who is to say that this world needs to be saved anyways? I’m sure that we should help people if they ask for support or help. But some people really don’t need saving. What we see as a flaw in an individual, they might see as their greatest strength. We don’t really owe it to anyone to make them better.
It’s up to them to decide what entails as improvement and support. The world in some sense doesn’t really need to be saved. It is quite perfect the way it is in this form or fashion. Sometimes, the more we intentionally want to do good, the bigger of a mess we create. Many things in life are double-edged swords and everyone has their own perspective on what entails as improvement and what entails as a setback.
Think about political parties and all their different creeds and beliefs. What one stands for as right, the other critiques as wrong. What one sees as good, the other sees as pure evil. So, how do you exactly save the world for two different people whose idea of a utopia is completely different?
I think about a comment that one of my fellow classmates said in a philosophy class last year. About how if we could simply help just one person every single day, whether it be saying something nice or holding the door for them, that in itself will be enough. We don’t need to impact hundreds of millions of people in order to make a difference. We can simply help just one person out in one small way every single day, and that in itself will be great already.
These little habits of support can compound into greater results naturally and inevitably we will be making that impact on the world that we so desire to have. Sometimes, it pays to think small and act small and eventually in the long-term we will reap significant benefits and rewards.
Personally, I do my best to help the community that I’ve grown up in. I attend and contribute to Toastmaster workshops. I contribute my thoughts and musings in spiritual and philosophical discussions. I try to help my family and friends the best that I can given my own perspectives and limitations. I do what I can to provide a little bit of help every single day to just one person each day, whether it be a friend, a family member, or even a stranger.
And I do genuinely believe that these small increments can have big results eventually. So, it pays to start small and go from there. We don’t have to be superheroes. We don’t have enforce our creed or beliefs onto other people – for better or worse. There is nothing that technically needs to be saved in this world. But of course, genuine help is appreciated for people who need them. And there is still a lot of need in this lifetime.
So, yes, do your best to fight for what you believe in. Immerse yourself in things that you feel passionate about. Support those who need the support and help that they can get. And just go from there. Realize that life is beautiful just the way it is, even with all its warts and flaws and heartbreaks. I know it’s easier said than done, but just look around and you can see lots of value in the mundane.
There’s nothing wrong with thinking big or doing big acts of service. There’s nothing inherently wrong with wanting to change the world for the better. After all, that’s how innovations come and impact human society. But just note that we are all imperfect creatures with differing perspectives and limited mindsets. No one person can go at it alone and expect tremendous changes in a short span of life.
Just plant a small seed every day, consistently, and perhaps there will be a significant harvest many generations down the road.
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