Comments on: On Being Change, or, a Quarter’s Quandary http://johncarrier.com/2008/04/17/on-being-change-or-a-quarters-quandary/ New Year's Revolutionary Fri, 05 Dec 2008 00:33:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: John http://johncarrier.com/2008/04/17/on-being-change-or-a-quarters-quandary/#comment-47 John Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:07:34 +0000 http://johncarrier.com/2008/04/17/on-being-change-or-a-quarters-quandary/#comment-47 Are you making fun of me? As far as affection, acceptance, and attention go, you would probably value those goodies more from people who respected you for living your own ideals than similar goodies from people who favor you based on your adherence to their standards. The experience of reward or satisfaction depends on the outcome to which you're attaching your happiness. If you're only happy when world hunger has ended, you will probably never be satisfied. If you're simply happy to live in a world where people work to feed the hungry, then feeding the hungry yourself guarantees that you live in such a world. Diligence, yes, but not perfection or completeness. I think satisfaction with this kind of life requires both diligence and detachment from the goal of success. I can do my best, live how I think I (and others) should, and be happy with that. "It is not your responsibility to finish the work [of perfecting the world], but you are not free to desist from it either." --R. Tarfon, Pirkei Avot 2:16 If you measure success by positive change in others' behavior, then dig this: you are the only person whose behavior you can change at will, and inspiring others by your example will be more effective than persuading them verbally or coercing them physically or politically. Are you making fun of me?

As far as affection, acceptance, and attention go, you would probably value those goodies more from people who respected you for living your own ideals than similar goodies from people who favor you based on your adherence to their standards.

The experience of reward or satisfaction depends on the outcome to which you’re attaching your happiness. If you’re only happy when world hunger has ended, you will probably never be satisfied. If you’re simply happy to live in a world where people work to feed the hungry, then feeding the hungry yourself guarantees that you live in such a world.

Diligence, yes, but not perfection or completeness. I think satisfaction with this kind of life requires both diligence and detachment from the goal of success. I can do my best, live how I think I (and others) should, and be happy with that.

“It is not your responsibility to finish the work [of perfecting the world], but you are not free to desist from it either.” –R. Tarfon, Pirkei Avot 2:16

If you measure success by positive change in others’ behavior, then dig this: you are the only person whose behavior you can change at will, and inspiring others by your example will be more effective than persuading them verbally or coercing them physically or politically.

]]> By: ashbonk http://johncarrier.com/2008/04/17/on-being-change-or-a-quarters-quandary/#comment-46 ashbonk Fri, 18 Apr 2008 03:38:39 +0000 http://johncarrier.com/2008/04/17/on-being-change-or-a-quarters-quandary/#comment-46 Will you accept "cowardice" as a specific enough response? What if the little affection I get now turns into even less? Is being the change inherently rewarding or satisfying? Does it require diligence to be successful? Is success even possible, and if so, what does it look like? Will you accept “cowardice” as a specific enough response? What if the little affection I get now turns into even less? Is being the change inherently rewarding or satisfying? Does it require diligence to be successful? Is success even possible, and if so, what does it look like?

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