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Outward or inward motivation

Social justice warriors or indeed politically-charged people of any stripe seem to be outwardly motivated, and furthermore motivated by resentment. “I see bad stuff, therefore they—whoever they are—must be changed against their will.”

As a result they inflict terrible damage on everyone around them.

Which leads to a thought about personal change. Is it motivated by outward resentment aimed at externals? Or seeming attraction toward the shiny external? “Big house” or Ferrari or whatever. But outside of you.

Resentment is hard to sustain over the long haul. External rewards feel like dust in the mouth after a while.

Are there examples of people who made massive change by being inwardly-focused? The Kingdom of God is within. Etc.

Become the man you want to be and then let it radiate from there. That seems much more sustainable over the long haul. Especially if you’re content to be yourself even if nothing else ever happens.

Because “be the change you want to see in the world” is nonviable if the true underlying motive is “People will weep with gratitude when remembering my name, throughout history” and you see yourself as Ghandi 2.0.

Inward. What do I control? What is out of my control?