3 Ways To Do (Real) Good

These days, doing good has become so overly complicated that it feels politicized. Between America’s so-called ‘racial reckoning’, the?proliferation of ESG?and?impact funds, a vague understanding of ESG, DEI and the jargon of all things impact-related — it’s no wonder that an insidious?‘anti-woke’ movement?has been set in motion. Meanwhile well-intentioned people have become increasingly unsure of how to advance justice, stand up for what’s right, or, regardless of political inclinations, just do some good.

As someone who has been striving to do good for the past 17+ years, I acknowledge the politicization and complexity I myself have often brought to ‘doing good’. As a lawyer with multiple degrees and accolades, I used to pride myself on understanding sophisticated nuances of geopolitical situations and applying complex legal concepts to improbable scenarios— all at the exclusion of others. But as I ascended to the highest echelons of international human rights, I began to realize the irrelevance of my elitism and my work. I still remember the humbling moment when, in a room full of global leaders and entrepreneurs, I finally understood that no one was ever going to read my 50+ page paper on North Korean human rights.

Instead of deciding to shout even more loudly upon deaf ears, I decided to re-evaluate my ‘why’. After some honest introspection and some major career pivots, I’ve concluded that relating to everyday people and mobilizing local communities to take action is more meaningful than any policy paper or panel talk I could give as an ‘expert’. I am constantly checking my ego and my personal integrity in ensuring that the “why” that drives me results in actual positive impact empowering the communities I claim to want to help as opposed to perpetuating the very injustices I claim to want to rectify. Most importantly, I’ve realized that what counts most — at least to me — is the state of my heart and in ensuring that the work I do is from the overflow of my own self-empowerment.

Even as I continue to question, to re-evaluate and to evolve my “why”, here are 3 fundamental ways I keep myself accountable on ensuring that I am doing (real) good. I hope they will encourage each and every one of you to either continue or start doing good.

(1) Have a Posture of Humility

When I first started my journey as an advocate, I was consumed by self-righteous rage. I was the proud owner of this mini-personal megaphone that I used frequently to shout at all of the protests I attended. I couldn’t understand why others, including my own family and friends, didn’t care about the injustices of countless causes. Over the years, my ‘megaphone’ became speaking engagements, policy papers, any opportunity to showcase my opinions and expertise. I didn’t realize that my ego and savior complex, no matter my good intentions, were overshadowing the lived experiences of those I claimed to help.

It took me too many years to realize that making a real difference in the world doesn’t come from expertise or intellect. I now know that advocacy is most powerful when it is led by those with lived experience, when the resilient survivors of some of the most traumatic injustices are the true co-creators and decision-makers of a movement. I now know that true advocacy is creating the time and spaces to hear directly from the community members we claim to want to help.

Acknowledging what we don’t know and constantly putting our egos in check is the true starting point of doing real good. The key to making a real difference comes from a willingness to listen and learn from those on the front lines. And this can be done by anyone and everyone — regardless of education, status or experience. The power of having a posture of humility is that it is a much-needed message of inclusion. Each of us are welcome and invited to do good and make a difference.

(2) Go Back to the Basics

In a world that often feels complicated and overwhelming, it can be easy to lose sight of what really matters. After all, we are living in an unprecedented era of political polarization with the looming implications of AI and what it will mean for our future. But when it comes to doing good, the answer is simple: go back to the basics.

As Robert Fulghum reminded us in?All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten, we innately already know what it takes to do good. It’s about going back to the fundamental principles of being a good human being: be kind, share, help others. We’ve bogged ourselves down in jargon and acronyms, forgetting that doing good starts with simply being a good human being.

So, let’s strip away the complexity and embrace the simplicity of doing good. Let’s focus on the things that really matter, like kindness, empathy, and connection. And let’s remember that no matter who we are or what we do, we can all make a difference by just being genuinely good humans.

(3) Just Do It!

Just as real change comes with the discipline of daily habits, real good comes with the commitment of daily actions. Rather than feeling overwhelmed with all that is wrong with the world or believing that the actions of one person can’t or won’t make a difference — just commit to doing one small thing a day. It’s the daily commitment to small actions that adds up and creates real impact.

Back in the height of my self-righteous fervor, I was leading multiple campaigns and initiatives while still in law school. I was sleeping 4 hours a night, working 10+ hour days and on a clear pathway to burnout. It was around this time that I heard a profound piece of wisdom from a revered Aboriginal Canadian judge that has stayed with me since: making a difference doesn’t come from being a hero — just?choose?to do?one?heroic thing a day.

So may we have the courage to just do that one heroic thing a day — whether it is being kind to ourselves, reaching out to a friend, making a donation to a local charity, or inspiring others to take action. Every action counts, no matter how small it may feel. The key to doing good is to make a daily commitment and to just do it.

Now more than ever, we need more people to do (real) good. But as we do good, may it never be at the exclusion of others. Each of us can do good and make a difference so long as we have a posture of humility, embrace the simplicity of going back to the basics, and build up the courage and commitment to just do it — no matter how small our action may feel. So let’s do good and create a better future for ourselves and for generations to come — but let’s do it in a way that honors and centers the voices of those with lived experience and in a way that leads others to join us.

“Fight for the things you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you” — Ruth Bader Ginsburg