A guy once said to me: “I don’t approve of all those self-development, ‘be a better person’ books. If everybody read them and became perfect, life would be so boring!”
For a minute there, I thought he had a point. Then after a while I strongly disagreed, but couldn’t convince him because I didn’t use any forcible argument. It just felt very wrong inside.
His words really imprinted in my memory. As the years went by, I thought over and over about this “hypothesis”. If I met that guy again, I would have much more to say now!
Most importantly, none of those (unfortunately there are not many of them) who have been striving to become absolutely kind, helpful, generous, honest, etc. – NOBODY has ever reached perfection in it. Sure, some have achieved very impressive results worth admiration. But sooner or later every person will make a mistake, he won’t be literally perfect.
So what is the point of discussing about the vainness of faultlessness without any practical proof?
But that of course doesn’t mean we should stop trying to be better. Although the final target is so far away, each step taken towards it makes us closer. It is like the comparative adjective when you are at the “good” point now, and by passing through numerous levels of “better”, you are getting closer to “the best”. I remember my Political Science teacher quoting the words: “We never reach our ideals, whether of mental or moral improvement, but the thought of them shows us our deficiencies and spurs us on to higher and better things”.
Look at us, people. We can’t simply live without ideals. We search them in religion, history, or among people we know. If we don’t find them there, we make them up. The brave superheroes trying to save the world, forgetting about their personal gain, not looking for fame or recognition (and often suffering for their noble intentions), for a single reward – seeing others live happily.
Do you leave the movie theater each time, full of best intentions to change the world? I know I did after the latest Dark Knight movie!
But why watch the world being saved only on the screen? Why not try it in real life? I mean, there are not so many mutants, aliens, or evil geniuses in the world, but isn’t there so much other – maybe not so obvious – evil? In some things that people around us do? Or aren’t our bad habits also evil?
We think our problems are just our business, but in fact it is amazing how big their effects can be. I – one single person – can influence so many people around me, who will influence other people around them, who will influence even more people. And that influence, multiplied by others’ influence, will probably return to me some day, as the world turns round. And if my influence is good – I am strong/brave/kind/noble/caring – I give to the world my best, which can be multiplied by others’ best. I live to make the world better. Good deeds are my superpowers. I am a superhero. My own superhero…and maybe somebody else’s too.