There is a Chinese story that I can’t find now, about some guy who lost at some competition, and he is rebuked by a philosopher that feeling sad about the loss is unpatriotic. The guy asks why, and the philosopher explains that losing the competition means that China has people more skilled than him, but winning the competition means China has no people more skilled than him, therefore (taking the guy’s skills as fixed), the reality where he loses the competition is better for China… and as a patriot he should be happy that this is the reality we live in.
I think there is also a chapter in Games People Play analyzing people who made “helping others” so important part of their identity that they feel betrayed when those they helped actually get better and don’t need their help anymore. Sometimes they even sabotage them, so that they can continue helping.
If you are trying to improve the world, try to imagine that the world was overnight magically improved in given aspect and your help is no longer needed. Would you feel happy or sad? If sad… then there is a chance you are not doing the best you could, because in some way you are unconsciously trying to prevent the good outcome, so that you can keep being “a helpful person” longer. This could explain some examples of inefficient activism.
There is a Chinese story that I can’t find now, about some guy who lost at some competition, and he is rebuked by a philosopher that feeling sad about the loss is unpatriotic. The guy asks why, and the philosopher explains that losing the competition means that China has people more skilled than him, but winning the competition means China has no people more skilled than him, therefore (taking the guy’s skills as fixed), the reality where he loses the competition is better for China… and as a patriot he should be happy that this is the reality we live in.
I think there is also a chapter in Games People Play analyzing people who made “helping others” so important part of their identity that they feel betrayed when those they helped actually get better and don’t need their help anymore. Sometimes they even sabotage them, so that they can continue helping.
If you are trying to improve the world, try to imagine that the world was overnight magically improved in given aspect and your help is no longer needed. Would you feel happy or sad? If sad… then there is a chance you are not doing the best you could, because in some way you are unconsciously trying to prevent the good outcome, so that you can keep being “a helpful person” longer. This could explain some examples of inefficient activism.