Become the change that you wish to see

We spend so much of our time and energy lamenting over the negative state of the world. We want to change our world, our systems, rules, cultures and people but not ourselves. But the only way to change the world and make a difference in the world is by changing ourselves.

Instead of lamenting over the negative state of the world, think rather what we can do to make it a positive one. Mahatma Gandhi encourages us to become the change that we wish to see in the world.

Change is tough and no one likes to change though as Heraclitus said it is the only constant thing in the world. The world is like a river flowing, we can never step into the same water twice. Everything is in constant flux and if we don't change we will be ineffective and irrelevant. Someone told me jokingly that the only one who longs for a change is a wet baby. No one likes change and yet it is change that has changed the world and brought us so much progress.

Change means different things to different people. To the fearful it is threatening because it means that things may get worse; to the hopeful it is encouraging because things may get better; to the confident it is inspiring because the challenge exists to make things better. We have become so much settled in our contexts, ideas, attitudes and mindset that we find it impossible to change and grow. Not only that we are unwilling and afraid to change, we also prevent others from changing and adapting themselves to this fast changing world.

Change requires movement and every movement brings about some kind of friction and tension. But this friction can smoothen our rough edges and make us more effective in our careers and commitments.

Here are some ways to change ourselves and thus change the world.

1. Change your attitudes
The greatest discovery of our times is that we are able to change our attitudes. Don't attribute our low self-esteem and negative attitudes to our backgrounds rather take some steps to change our attitudes, beliefs and mindsets. When we do this we will change the world. The world today is for people with positive attitudes. Such people find happiness in everyone and everywhere. Be ready to adapt and adjust yourself to the situations. Change your attitudes and you change the world.

2. Know yourself
Know yourself to make a difference in the world and in your life. Find out who you really are and discover your innumerable potentialities and capabilities. This will help you to courageously take responsibility to change the world. Only when you know yourself you will be able to love yourself. Self-love is the foundation for love of others. If you don't love and respect yourself you will never be able to love and respect others. Believe that we have the power to change ourselves and change the world. The first step towards change is self-awareness and the next is self-acceptance. When we realize who we are we will feel the need for change and then we will welcome change.

3. Become responsible and respectable
This is another way to make a difference in the world. All of us see the poor situation of the world, all of us lament about it, but few of us take the responsibility to correct the world. We must take responsibility and become responsive to the changes in the world. When we are responsible we become respectable and admirable. You may not change the circumstances, the seasons, the wind, or the people but you can change yourself. Do this first. We must take responsibility for our lives and deeds and then the world will change.

4. Build lasting relationships

Most problems in our world are due to the absence of genuine relationships. Relationships like commodities have become so short-lived and today we use and throw away people like things. We need to build up our relationship skills to change others and ourselves. This change will bring harmony and joy to us. Money can't buy this joy. Positions can't give us this. The source of this happiness is our cordial relationships with our fellow beings. Everyone is unique and everyone can contribute something to this world. Look at persons as treasures of great possibilities and go beyond linguistic, religious, cultural and political barriers and relate and love everyone just as we love ourselves.

5. Build yourself and build the world
Change is always associated with action. It denotes a transition from one state to another. We need to build ourselves and build the world to bring the difference that we want to see. It is not the result of violent revolutions and shrewd political triumphs but a slow action that breeds in our hearts, which gradually spreads to transform the world positively and productively. Economically, physically and politically the results may not be shown suddenly, but slowly a change will take place within us which will still slowly spread to the world. The world will change only when we change. When we change we grow young.

An old Jewish story tells the reaction of a learned, wise rabbi to this excited announcement by a member of his congregation: "The Messiah has come! He is in our city now!"

"Really?" mused the rabbi.

Going to the window the rabbi looked out on the city and observed: "I see no difference."

After all our efforts we may not see any difference in the outer world but be glad that we have made a difference in our inner world.

Become the change that you wish to see in the world.

Joshy Thomas
Written by Joshy Thomas


Tag Become change wish Joshy Thomas