When you seek to improve yourself (and hey, since you’re reading this, I hope you are – this blog is 90% about self-improvement so what are you doing here if not?), there can actually be a very dangerous mindset shift that happens. Be careful, because this can harm you far in excess of whatever benefit you’re getting from your chosen path.
The dangerous shift is this: You start to resent others who aren’t doing what you’re doing.
You’ve seen it happen. Someone who’s been a lazy slob their whole life starts to get in shape and healthy, and suddenly they’re admonishing people who live the way they only recently used to. Or someone starts donating their time to a charity and then starts to get mad at all the people who don’t. Or even someone just trying to be more kind and considerate getting bitter about it not being reciprocated.
This is a poison, and you need to spit it out.
You can’t improve yourself and then get mad that the world hasn’t come along with you. It isn’t about the world – it’s about you. The world will get better, bit by bit, as the people in it do. But you have plenty of work to do on yourself, and getting mad at others who aren’t is hindering that work.
Look at it this way: the very definition of being the best person you can be is to rise above the average expectations of your society. The average society in your time and place condones or allows many things that you truly should rise above, or at least attempt to. But if you’re even marginally successful, that means that most people won’t be doing that same thing. That, by itself, is good! But don’t let it turn you into an isolationist, an island, a judgmental jerk.
Be better so you can help more. Improve, above all else, your soul.
The Opportunity Machine 