One of the big lies among people who want to have a positive impact in the world is that to do good, we kind of have to feel bad. We have to burn ourselves out. We have to do work that we don’t really like or want. And if we’re not kind of at the edge of our sanity at all times, we’re not sacrificing enough. We’re not dedicated enough.
First off, I just want to say clearly that that is utter garbage. It’s such an unhelpful, toxic belief to carry about ourselves and the world.
But more than that, I want to make the case that the most revolutionary, impactful, and positive thing any of us can do is simply to love our lives. When we truly love our lives, I believe that that innately aligns with the good – for ourselves and in the world.
Allowing yourself to do what you love and be who you really are defies the social systems that we want to change. It offers us sustainable positive energy over the long haul. And it inspires other people to get in the game with us.
It’s really something more like: If it doesn’t feel good, it’s not doing nearly as much good as you think it is.
Peter Schulte
I help aspiring changemakers do good in the world and feel good in the process.