“When you do things right, people won’t be sure you’ve done anything at all.”
Cartoons are my safe haven and quite often have a huge impact on my inspiration and epiphanies. This line from futurama has been stuck in my head lately. It’s a direct quote from what could possibly be God smashed with a computerized space probe (see episode Godfellas) after Bender realizes that the more he tries to make life better for the little people living on his chest, the more he hurts them. When he tries to stop “helping” they resent him and then just destroy each other.
Excellent episode aside, my takeaway from this line is that to truly make an impact you must let go of the idea of getting any credit. To actually help anyone or make a change you have to set aside any personal benefit. Your energy is more persuasive than your words so without the right intentions, your message won’t come through clearly. The biggest chain reactions can be set off without a word. Sometimes just being a good example and keeping your energy positive is all it takes. Even if people never realize that you’re the one who sparked something in them; even if you never know the good you’ve caused true altruism does not listen for applause. You have to be a good person even with no one watching. Accepting your own dark parts and working on them first is the best way to start changing the world. The only way to really leave the mark of your life is through the death of your ego.
Wanderlust Lizerd 