I think a lot of people – genuinely –– want to make the world a better place. They want to help others. They are serious and feel inspired by others. Given the opportunity and situation, they would engage in activities that would allow them to make a difference.
I do not have the resources
If you ask them why they are not doing it– their answer will probably be one of these: – I don’t have the money, I don’t have the time, I’m too busy with my work, or something in line with one of these.
There is another way and maybe a more powerful way
Very often we associate changing the world with volunteering or fighting for a cause. However, these are not the only means to change the world.
I think, there is a very powerful way to change the world that we tend to neglect. They have a bigger potential to do so.
We fail to appreciate the power we have as individuals. We do not often realize that our behavior, presence, and interaction, – significantly impact the people around us.
You might ask what does being a better individual mean?
It means
Trying to be fair,
Respecting others,
Listening to others and not judging,
Accepting others as they are,
Recognize that others are neither inferior nor superior,
Trying to be part of the solution,
Understanding that we may not know the answer always and may not be right,
Realizing that we might be hurting others,
Realizing that we may be blinded by our ego.
It means trying to practice these virtues while simultaneously realizing that we may not be treated the same way. We will have all sorts of situations that are not conducive to practicing these habits.
This is not an easy task. This is a painful journey. However, the good news is that our change can initiate real change in the world.
Let me try to answer these questions by asking a few questions. Have you ever failed powerless, or made to believe that you are inferior? Have you been in a place where you are afraid to speak out? Have you ever felt invisible? Have you been treated unfairly?
I have experienced some of these myself. Maybe you or someone you know may have experienced the same. We all know how it feels. We know how it affects us emotionally. A lot of the evils of society – like drugs and depression have roots in such situations.
How do you think it will affect us – when we interact with those who develop the above habits?
When we become better persons – how we treat others changes. People on the receiving end of our behavior or interaction feel validated, respected, and valued.
We all know the power of such individuals and the difference they can make to society.
There are many ways to change the world. Even if we do not have resources, means, or time, we have one thing in our control that can change the world. It is our willingness and commitment to being a better individual
Our change will influence the people we interact with. This will improve their inner and outer world. It will create harmony. In short, people will be transformed. With the transformation of each individual, the people he or she comes in contact with will also be transformed. In a world, where we are all connected, this can create a ripple effect throughout society.
Like the butterfly effect – a flutter of an individual being a better person can transform the world.
Let our aspiration to make the world a better place give us the courage to be better persons.
