When You Finish Saving The World: Maddening and Promising Benefits
We all have ambitions, but in the realms of superhero-ism and global change there may sit at the top of the list a desire to alter the world for the better, and make tremendous change for a better tomorrow. As if saving the world were a real possibility and not fantasy! But the truth is that saving the world is a process and can be accomplished. Thanks to the miraculous efforts of activists, influencers, and thoughtful citizens, the world is a much better place than it was before. For those who are laser-focused on the goal of making the planet better, the moment when that goal has been achieved brings with it a unique set of maddening and promising benefits — and a very necessary pause to take it all in.
Taking in the Mad and Promising Rewards of Saving the World
The rewards that follow the completion of monumental tasks tend to be split between the Mad and the Promising — a combination of extremely satisfying joy offset by defeated disappointment. For example, the sense of purpose might suddenly disappear as the tangible reward of the work comes to an end and the work is done.
The Mad
On the Mad side, there is the disappointment of the work no longer being around to provide a sense of purpose — a gap for those who were the driving force in the effort to save the world. Other maddening realizations include:
• Knowing that there will never be anything quite as monumental: There is a unique joy associated with participating in something that is truly grand and substantial, and when the work is done there is the knowledge that nothing of such caliber will come along again.
• Being unsure of where to turn next: The direction that once seemed so clear and attainable suddenly dissipates without the same focus or passion of the initial problem-solving endeavors available to the world-saviors.
• Experiencing a crash emotionally and physically: In the end it has been a marathon of work and when the finish line is crossed the body and mind goes into shock, beginning a wave of physical and mental exhaustion that can be difficult and uncomfortable.
The Promising
On the Promising side, the feelings of pride and accomplishment for a job-well-done are significant rewards that put smiles on the faces of those who put the pieces of the puzzle together to make the world a better place. Promising benefits of the world-saving effort include:
• Feeling a tremendous sense of accomplishment: There are few accomplishments quite like saving the world — it provides a sense of personal pride that is irreplaceable and appreciated to no end.
• Becoming an inspiration to fellow world-savers: After the success of saving the world has been achieved, aspiring world-changers look to those who have traveled the path as a source of motivation and exemplary behavior.
• Being an ambassador of change: Those who find success in saving the world inhabit a new, unique space where they can travel the planet as a beacon and example of what is possible with right understanding, thoughtfulness and passion.
Harnessing the Loss, Grasping the Reward
When all is said and done and the work of saving the world has been realized, it is important that those who fought the good fight to pause and appreciate the journey. It will be a reminder of better times and a more righteous goal, and it can provide the momentary reprieve necessary for resetting and reorganizing for the next grand mission.
Recalibrating for the Next Step
Saving the world is a noble effort that should be celebrated and acknowledged for the success and progress it brings. And yet, it can also be tiring and even a bit disheartening. That is why it is so important to think through the next step of the journey and make sure the values that were exemplified in the process of saving the world are also valuated in each new endeavor.
When the world-savers set off on the next mission they should equip themselves with the same patience, stamina and tidbits of wisdom that got them through the last challenge. From breaking down the problem into small steps to harnessing the joy of completion, it should be a practice of the tried-and-true methods that left their mark in the previous mission and will provide insight on the next.
Reevaluating the Commitment
Coming out of the world-saving mission, those who contributed have surely learned many lessons. What was valued? What was missing? What were the surprises? Taking a step back and reevaluating how the mission was completed can help the world savers better understand the things that were necessary for success and the strategies and accomplishments to build upon in the future. It is also important to continue learning from the mistakes — as a way of protecting against overconfidence and taking the hard-won lessons from the last feat into the next endeavor.
Creating a Power Team
In the beginning, those who set out to save the world may have started the mission alone or as part of a group. To accomplish something of such a grand proportion, there are sure to be a collection of Herculean figures that exist at the heart of the mission. And that is why creating a power team is essential for any long-term success.
Building a team of equal minds that encompasses a gamut of experience, perspectives and intelligence is a sure-fire way of creating a recipe for success that is not dependent on one person or preconceived notion but rather a collective will of individuals that can bring greatness to the table.
Diversifying for sustainability
The world-saviors should also be mindful of diversifying when assembling the power team — something that can ensure a more sustainable mission. After all, the questions of “What if?” or “What have we missed?” do not have one answer but rather can be affirmative to a variety of theories, experience and strategies — and that is why the team should be diverse in all its forms.
Let the Journey Begin
When the mission has been completed and the review period has been completed, world-savers can feel more confident that they are ready to tackle the next challenge with the same or greater determination than before. And with the collective efforts of a prepared and capable power team, any mission is possible — you have saved the world before, after all.
Saving the world is a staggeringly huge effort and it comes with a huge reward — the prospect of better days ahead for humanity. It is a problematic pursuit but one that leads its champions to real, quantifiable success. The maddening and promising benefits that accompany the feat — appointed as exhaustion meets a sense of great pride — define the journey and provide the necessary motivators for the next great mission.
