Society & Politics

How to Be Your Most Villainous Self, volume 1: Recognize How Fortunate You Are

How to Be Your Most Villainous Self, volume 1: Recognize How Fortunate You Are


When I was young, I was deeply unhappy. I had not yet discovered that super villainy was my true calling and tried (in vain) to lead a heroic life. I ignored my instincts and blindly followed society's predetermined structures for a good life by kindness, altruism and selflessness. I hated every second of it.


This, my darlings, is not the way to be happy or fulfilled.


My first step to becoming my most villainous self was recognizing that I am incredibly fortunate. It was not until I began practicing gratitude for the opportunities that I had been given that I was able to recognize my potential greatness as a villain.


Practicing Gratitude


How to Be Your Most Villainous Self, volume 1: Recognize How Fortunate You Are


If you are able to read this article, you have so much to be thankful for, whether you realize it or not. At some point, you have received the necessary education in English to be able to read the words that I have written. You live in a place where you have access to the internet, whether through your own personal devices or on a public one. This is something that over 90% of the humans who have existed have not had the opportunity to do.


You may loathe school, but you were fortunate to go when so many are still unable to do so. You may loathe where you live, but you have access to technology that allows you to interact with people elsewhere in the world. You have access to information that allows you to experience cultures without leaving your home. This is an amazing and exciting time to be alive, and every moment you spend hating something that you have or wanting something that you don't could be better utilized as a vehicle for a villainous plot.


Gratitude as a Vehicle for Villainy


How to Be Your Most Villainous Self, volume 1: Recognize How Fortunate You Are


By being grateful for the lot that you have been given, you open yourself up to new opportunities for greatness. I could wallow and feel sorry for myself for not being able to use my secret identity to find a job that will fund my villainous schemes, but it is much more productive to take this opportunity for pursuing an advanced degree. The knowledge I will gain will inevitably help me create better genetic hybrids to defeat the forces of good and stymie my enemies further. I could be apprehensive about leaving my coalition to study on the other side of the country or I could be grateful for the opportunity to meet new villains with more diverse ideas. Which do you think is the more productive strategy?


A roadblock does not have to be an obstacle. Instead, it can be the force necessary to put you on the path towards your most villainous and best self.

How to Be Your Most Villainous Self, volume 1: Recognize How Fortunate You Are
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