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by
Suzanne E. Harrill
How empowered do you feel about making a difference in creating a better world?
Some of you already make a difference whereas some of you want to make a
difference but don’t know how. Many get discouraged when watching the world
scene or focusing on the problems in our own life and family system. Much of our
conditioning has taught us that one person cannot make a difference. What if
those teachings can be updated to give you a different interpretation of how
life works and therefore give you a different experience? Turn off the voice in
your head that may disagree with me and hear me out. You and I can make a
difference to the greater good of the collective. Whether you know it or not,
how you live your day is important. The more you add positive thoughts,
feelings, and actions to others, you add to, rather than subtract from the
greater good of the whole. Let us look at ways to be of service for the greater
good of the collective. Let me begin with a look at someone who made a
difference.
I
recently attended an amazing memorial service for my 90-year-old friend, Dave.
It was heart centered and I felt very joyful experiencing the service. My dear
friend, Nancy, married him 32 years ago after meeting on a Sierra Club nature
trip. They shared so much through the years, and I watched how happy she was in
this second marriage, which included both good times and deep challenges. The
memorial service opened a window for me to see so much more about this man. One
of his talents was being an excellent wood turner. Dave was very talented and
generous with giving others pieces of his art; my favorite is a wooden acorn
about two inches in diameter that he made for me thirty years ago which I still
have. He knew it was my symbol for the acorn being a metaphor for the beauty and
perfection inside each of us knowing how to perfectly grow to be itself no
matter what the circumstances.
Three family members, all from Nancy’s side of the family, spoke at the service
sharing ways he impacted each. I learned so much more about Dave’s character
through their eyes. It uplifted me to learn how he lived his life through their
stories. He lived a life of love, kindness, fun, travel, creativity, wisdom,
connection, and service to others.
This is an example of the power and influence a humble person who was not famous
in the eyes of the world contributed to the greater good of society. He shared
himself fully with his own daughter’s family as well as with Nancy’s large
family. He also shared his time and talents volunteering in the larger
community. The world is a better place because he lived and positively
influenced so many others.
I
know each of you have examples of people you admire that make a difference in
the world with how they live their lives. It inspires us to do the same with our
own lives, which is service to the well-being of the collective. Instead of
watching the negative parts of humanity through the eyes of the news, that often
pulls one down into negative thinking and fear, replace it with stories of
everyday heroes who show us what is possible. It motivates us to have intentions
to make a difference in the world.
If you want to concentrate more on how you live your life, consider asking
yourself each day, “How Can I Make a Difference in the World? How Can I Be of
Greater Service to the Whole.” At the most basic level it is of service to all
when you are good to yourself and build awareness. It feels good to be around
someone who takes care of themselves. Why? Because they often express such
traits as compassion, friendliness, understanding, patience, and kindness.
Practicing self-care on all levels, physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual,
helps you walk through your day adding to the greater good of the world. This by
the way, is true no matter what the challenges you have.
A
well-nourished person takes care of themselves first and gives from their
overflow. Notice the word overflow. The gift you give others is genuine and
unconditional when you fill yourself up first. Giving to others when you are
empty or unaware is not the way to make the world a better place. It is
important to gift yourself the time and space to ask yourself what your true
needs are, such as, alone time to grow and heal and get to know yourself,
spending quality time with caring others, or telling yourself the truth about what
your feelings, hurts, or irritations are. Then make it a point to meet those
needs. If you are unaware of your needs and how to get them met, it is important
to take a pause in your life to figure them out, which may include the help of
others. Part of good self-care is having regular daily practices in place that
fill you up, such as prayer, meditation, setting intentions, walking or sitting
in nature, looking at the sky, looking at flowers, connecting with a pet, and
talking to a caring loved one.
When you know yourself, you live your life differently. As a self-aware person
you shift out of negative patterns and begin living and passing healthy patterns
on to family, friends, neighbors, and coworkers. You make a difference in the
world by simply being aware, taking responsibility for your life, making
positive changes in yourself, and living the best version of you.
If you feel filled up and want to give to others, consider simple acts of
kindness that add positive energy to the world like talking kindly to a food
checker or mail person, smiling at others while walking to your car, being
tolerant when you speak to an agent with a foreign accent when receiving
assistance on the phone. Some of you can go further and be of service in a
bigger way, sharing time, money, and talents in places that you want to make a
positive difference. To those of you serving in a bigger way I say, “Thank you.
I am grateful for all that you do.”
In summary, we can each make a difference in creating a better world. It begins
with you and me. If you have ever thought, “I can’t make a difference in the
world because the problems look so big,” instead think, “I do make a difference
in creating a better world by the way I live my life. The more I add positive
thoughts, feelings, and actions to others, I add to, rather than subtract from,
the greater good of the whole. The world changes as I change and set intentions
for a better world. I do serve the greater good.” Giving and receiving are flip
sides to the same coin. As you give to others you receive.
I will end
with a new word I learned recently that sums up how important each one of us is
in impacting the world. Ubuntu. It is an African Zulu word meaning Humanity.
It can be translated to meanings such as, I am because we are, or I am because
you are. It is essentially about togetherness, and how all our actions have an
impact on others and on society. It is the common thread of the UN's Global
Goals, and the motivation in the mission to end extreme poverty – so that
everyone, everywhere, can live their fullest expression of their life.
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