How To Change The World (And Others)

“Be the change you wish to see in the world.” — Mahatma Gandhi

Photo by Ross Findon on Unsplash

It took me a long time to finally understand the meaning behind Gandhi’s famous words.

It may not be everyone’s meaning, but it’s mine.

Since the first time I read them, those words stuck with me. I wanted to follow that advice, but I simply didn’t know what it meant.

Like most people, I just wanted the world to be a happier and healthier place.

The change I wanted to see in the world was peace. I wanted everyone to be kind to each other, to treat each other with respect and dignity. I wanted people to care for one another, and to be empathetic and compassionate towards one another.

I didn’t want people to suffer anymore. I didn’t want things like wars, sickness, poverty, violence, or corruption to plague our planet anymore.

As a kid, though, making just one of these changes seemed way too big, let alone all of them! I had not one clue about where to start. It all seemed so huge and impossible and overwhelming.

How could I change the whole world!?

I was just a little kid in a big world. What impact was I going to make?

Start With You

Growing up has taught me a few things — one of them being that I don’t control the world. As much as I want to at times, I’ve learned that I just don’t. That’s how it is.

I do have some control, though — and it begins with me. Looking inward is where my power lies, and where I can make the changes I want to make.

Each one of us has this power — and if we all took responsibility for ourselves and learned how to love and care for ourselves, I believe we would change the world.

It all starts with you.

If you want your parents to take better care of their health by eating better and exercising more often, you have to do those things first. Be the example.

But here’s the key:

Don’t do those things just so you can rub it in their face. Don’t do it just so…