558 - The Privilege of Personal Development

In this episode, we continue our discussion on Personal Development as a form of Privilege.

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Adams Thoughts

"Pursuing self-improvement is indeed a privilege, and it can easily become a selfish endeavor. But it doesn't have to end up this way. These practices are also tools to equip us for our collective struggle. To give us the awareness, the perspective, the time, the attention, the focus, and the mental energy to step up when the moment calls for it. To know we have the time and emotional capacity to drop everything to take care of a family member. To show up for a friend who's hurting. To knock on doors for a cause or candidate. To join and contribute to a mutual aid network. To protest, march, and stand in solidarity. To use that privilege for something other than our own pleasure or well-being".

In Episode 553 I Said

• Personal development is a form of privilege. It's something that people who are doing okay are able to pursue while those who are struggling, and need it most, often can't.

In this episode

• If you have privilege you should take advantage of it
• It's not something to feel bad about
• It doesn't have to be a bad thing
• It's about recognizing that privilege
• If you're in a position to pay off your student loans quickly because of where you started in life or the kind of job you had or because of the support you received earlier in your life...that is a good thing. But that doesn't make you better than someone who is stuck with their loans for the rest of their life.

Some realizations

• You are in the position you are in in part because of the life you have lived
• Struggling isn't always because of someones choices and success isn't always because of someones choices
• Tiny privileges throughout your life lead to massive shifts in the direction of your life
• Privilege isn't about receiving something, it's about never having to think about something

What to do

• Privilege isn't a bad thing. Personal development isn't a bad thing. Use both to help others.
• Don't burn the ladder when you get to the top, build an elevator instead.
• If you ARE in a place of privilege, pursuing personal development, growth, and progress allows you to fully use that privilege to aid others.