CHANGE STARTS WITH ME
Blessed with intellect and a set of skills, we,
the human race, have been placed on Earth for a purpose, and it is our duty in
life to discover exactly what that purpose is. As stated in the Bible, “to whom
much is given, much is expected.” I believe giving back to society is, quite
simply, a responsibility.Many feel the task of positive change
is impossible, something to be left to visionaries like Gandhi, who led a nation
through passive resistance, or Elizabeth Cady Stanton, a heroic women’s rights
activist.
However, I believe each and every one of us can make a
difference. And we can start this moment. Changing the world begins with
improving who we are on the inside. We each have a unique identity and our own
distinct thoughts. These thoughts often propel us to act. So, by mindfully
centering our thoughts in a positive direction, we can improve our actions and
thus our character.
I can improve the world by
consciously looking around and thinking, at every opportunity, How can I help?
The most powerful way one can change the world isn’t simply by doing one thing,
but instead is a way of life revolving around the concept of altruism. While
some may side with the philosopher Hobbes and argue that every act is tainted
by primal human desires of remembrance and power, and thus is not truly
selfless, I disagree. Charitable acts are not selfish because they improve our
society as a whole.
An altruistic act may be as small as smiling
and wishing someone “Good morning” or as impactful as building a house for a
homeless family. By completing small acts of kindness, I can gradually make the
world a better place. Eventually, when I have the means, these small acts will
evolve into greater deeds: helping people in less developed countries, adopting
a child, or choosing a career where I improve lives. This lifestyle and kind
acts all stem from the same root: self-improvement.
The positive impact I can make starts within
myself; by becoming a truly giving person, I can change the world. While
self-improvement may seem a passive process, it’s actually a challenge
requiring daily practice. It involves continually controlling my thoughts and
actions to determine the type of person I want to be. My mission to positively
change the world begins with self-improvement and concludes with making kind
acts an instinctive part of my daily life.
Change happens
whether we like it or not and regardless of whether we do anything about it.
Tomorrow will be different than today. We can resist, but that is a bit like
standing in a river and trying to hold back the water – useless. We have a
choice to watch change passively happening around us, or to participate and
lead it. Most people who say they don’t like change mean they don’t like when
it happens to them, but they
don’t mind if they are the ones initiating the change. We’d rather be the
changer than the change-ee.
Changes are
taking place on all levels, from simple to complex; whether the minuscule
transformations of our brain cells to the political crises unfolding around the
world. Some changes we can manage, some we can influence, but realistically,
most are outside our control. Statistically few of us will change the history
of the world in a momentous way. Individually we cannot eradicate war, poverty,
greed and corruption. I won’t invent a cure for cancer or solve the opiate
crisis. But I can change myself. And in changing myself I may have a greater,
more positive impact on my world – the
one in which I actually live.
We can lead change
and make our world a better place if we start with ourselves. Learning to
become a better spouse, parent, businessperson, leader, salesperson,
philanthropist, coach and volunteer and also a better person will enable me to
contribute more to my family, my community, and my industry. By inviting
positive change into my life, by initiating change, I might be able to
positively influence others. But that’s a choice they have
to make.
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