If the polls are any indication, millions of Americans are experiencing varying levels of frustration because of their inability to make a dent in the problems confronting them personally. It's easy to become discouraged and feel that nothing you do matters, but here are ten ways that you CAN make a difference.
1. Do something entirely unselfishly for someone each day.
It doesn't have to be a great deed. All it takes to get started is a kind word or a small favor for someone else. The interesting thing is that, after a while, you won't have to look for subjects on which to practice. They'll begin coming to you.
2. Leave the world a little better than you found it.
If you've hiked in the Rockies, you've probably heard the expression: pack it in, pack it out. It refers to not leaving your trash behind when you leave your camp ground. That's fine as far as it goes, but it won't clean up the mess we've all created. A better way to convey the idea might be: pack it in, pack MORE out. Pick up the pop top, clean up the camp site, remove the litter from your street, even if you didn't put it there.
3. Minimize your contribution to the world's pollution.
We all pollute, to a greater or lesser degree, but we can all reduce the amount that we pollute. Recycling, voluntary simplicity and simple consideration of others are all ways to begin.
4. Stop tolerating irresponsible behavior.
Some people are irresponsible by choice, some by habit, and others by ignorance. Whichever the cause, you can begin to make a difference by letting the other person know, in a nice way, that his or her behavior is unacceptable. The key here is to address the behavior rather than the person.
5. Add your voice.
If you're an observer of the political scene, you might well conclude that your voice and vote are of little value and, in many areas, that's true. It's also true that the communications revolution, especially e-mail and instant phone polling, is slowly changing that. Today, it's much easier to make your voice heard, and even politicians are beginning to learn that it pays to listen.
6. Become broadly informed.
Another benefit of the communications revolution is that it's easier to become informed across a broad spectrum of issues. The internet, the proliferation of special publications, and the multiplication of interest groups have made information much easier to come by, and intelligent decisions begin with good information.
7. Become an expert in something.
It almost doesn't matter what! The effort required to become truly expert in almost any field produces a transferable skill: it becomes easier to learn more. Becoming expert builds confidence; it also increases your marketability. The thing to remember, however, is that expertise in any field today is a constantly moving target. You've got to keep working at it, but the more you learn, the more you will feel that you're able to make a difference.
8. Create something special.
Everyone has a special talent, although it's often buried beneath layers of insecurity and self-doubt. Your talent may be knitting, woodworking, writing, or just cleaning up. Whatever it is, there is a way to use it to create something special for yourself and for others. Emma Grafton, a young woman of 87 from Butler, PA has been knitting 3' x 3' quilts at the rate of 50 a year since 1991. She gets material from donations and gives them away, especially during the holidays. Mrs. Grafton is making a difference by creating something special.
9. Meet anger with love.
There's an awful lot of anger in the world. You don't have to go beyond the front page or the local news to see it. Quite often, when we're confronted with an angry person, we tend to react in kind. Instead, try meeting the anger with love - not reasoning, argument, instruction - just love. You may be surprised at the difference it makes!
10. Resolve to be and do your best in everything you do.
We are all too comfortable with averageness in our lives. We accept so much less of ourselves than we are capable. We take on too much, do it less than well, and complain that we're tired and overburdened. Just for a while, try doing less, but do everything that you do the very best way that you can. Before long, you'll discover what the sages have called, the joy of doing.
About the Submitter
This piece was originally submitted by Shale Paul, Coach in Personal Effectiveness, who can be reached at Shale@Shalecoach.com, or visited on the web.
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