I like my job.

Shock horror, I know. But I’m a lucky bugger who landed a place working in a small team with “misson-motivated” people straight out of university. And of the many things I’ve learned while working there, I think the most fundamental has been a mindset shift - or the end of one - to a sort of “group-esteem”.

See, I used to be a very competetive person. I was often the “brightest kid in class”, and that does something to your phychology. My identity was exceptionalism, so peole who were “better” than me were threats. Looking back, it seems such a miserable way to exist.

Other, more capable people aren’t threats: They’re Assets!

Working with people who are Competent, Capabale, brilliant people would have eaten away at a younger me. But now, I see my team as an asset so valuable I would sacrifice much to keep them. Being surrounded by other people who are better than me reduces what I need to worry about, so I can focus on what I’m actually good at. And in turn, I provide that for them. Together, we are the sum total of our expertise and qualities, but not out flaws, drawbacks and blindspots. We cover for each other.

Much of my attitude shift into young adulthood has been a rejection of hyperindividualism. Communities and groups were what we were “made” for, I think. Being a small part of something Good is Good. It doesn’t matter if your contribution was one of hundreds, thousands - so long as the thing you contribute to is Good, you did Good. And in accepting this, I’ve been able to shake off the curse of comparison. I see displays of skill, ingenuity, and brilliance as Assets, as more parts of a greater Human Good. It doesn’t matter if it’s not me playing that instrument, making that art, acheiving that breakthrough - because we’re all doing it together, with and for each-other.

And for the first time in years, I’m happy. With who I am, where I’m at, and what I’m doing. What we’re doing.

So do your little bits of good, and I’ll do mine. And maybe we can leave the world a little better than we found it. Don’t worry about it being “good enough”. It just needs to be Good.