Your privilege is not your fault

It is your responsibility

Your privilege is not your fault, but it is your responsibility.

I became a social entrepreneur because of my privilege.

At first, I did it out of guilt. I felt that I needed to restore some balance in the world because I had been given so much.

But that got me nowhere. 

Guilt paralyzed me. Instead of inspiring me to act, guilt led me to judge and punish myself. My call to help came from a call of duty, instead of a genuine desire.

Then I started doing it out of pleasure and realized that my power comes from my privilege. 

The recognition that I could do something awakened in me the responsibility to want to do something. My privilege led me to desire to exercise my ability to respond.

Today, I help because I can. And because I can, I want to.

From privilege comes power, from power comes responsibility, from responsibility comes desire, and from desire comes purpose. And nothing defeats purpose.

Don't help because you "have" to help, from guilt. Help because you "can" help, from responsible desire.

There is nothing more beautiful than recognizing your agency for change and deciding to exercise it. 

That is your power mantra and true privilege as a social entrepreneur.