A Matter of Changing or Serving

I have been thinking about the idea of “changing the world”.

“Changing the world” is a concept I had raging hormones about, as a manifestation of a “type-A-overachieving-never-feeling-quite-self-secure” personality as well as a true desire to “make a difference before I’m dead”.

Part of a new direction I’m moving toward is a notion of “changing the world” but not changing “THE WORLD” but instead, changing OURSELVES. Given that we are integral components of the world, and given that the only parameter we can actually and honestly change is ourselves, by changing ourselves – or at least aspects of ourselves – we automatically are changing the world.

I recently heard a podcast from NPR about Satish Kumar who said that he is not looking to change the world, but instead, serve the world. This statement made me re-examine what it is I truly want to do – “change” the world or “serve” the world – and whether there is a difference between the two.

I came to a conclusion that there is indeed a big difference between wanting to change the world and wanting to serve the world. I also came to the conclusion that this difference may result in similar short term consequences / manifestations but potentially dramatic long term consequences / manifestations.

That said, I recognize that much of what I personally view as “positive” evolution has emerged from desires of changing the world. Therefore, this may be a matter of semantics, and for many, semantics do not detract from a pure desire to do good for the world. My ego pathology emerges from anything including semantics, which is why I want to differentiate for myself where I want my desires to come from.