Watch Woody Harrelson‘s opinion on the people vs. corporations, and then read on below because I need your help! Help me, help you….. bonus if you know which movie I’m parodying…
Did you know that our issues are in our hands this way? But there is more at play than just corporations isn’t there? You gotta lotta stuff going on in your life that make these “easy” changes difficult. It’s easier said than done, because if it was that easy, we’d already be making greater progress now that so many people are aware of the shit going on.
I’m working on some ideas to help you switch to a lifestyle that better matches your beliefs and values to help the world. One that supports your change but without all the pressure and fear that you’re not doing it right, or all the overwhelm that comes with such an enormous transition.
But I need your help. I need to understand what some of the biggest issues are that people are facing so I can make those the top priority instead of just using what I know from my own experiences and research.
Would you help me out and tell me in the comments below what your biggest struggles are with social and environmental change? I would love to help more people start making the changes through this website, Facebook group (come join me!), and some materials I’m creating, but I would rather hear from all of you what you need specifically, so that it will make the biggest difference! Can’t wait to hear from you!
Life on mother earth (Photo credit: Mara ~earth light~)
I just logged into my Facebook and found a post from one of my friends. He’s frustrated with all the crazy news stories in the media about the problems in our world.
He wants to know where all the good stories are from those of us that care and are doing something to make this world a better place.
I couldn’t agree more. And neither could his Facebook followers!
What a great blog post, I thought. And so here it is.
What am I doing to make the world a better place?
Today, I worked on my mental state of mind through researching self-esteem and self-confidence. I listened to hypnotherapy to help my mind and actions get in-tune with each other.
I want to eat better. I want to behave better. I want to consistently push myself more and more in everything I do. I want to give to humanity and the environment in sustainable ways, even if that just means doing my best in my own little world.
Why?
I’ve researched for many years now the effects my diet has on my health, my state of mind, the power of my soul, my finances, and basically my life. But the even better part that I learned is that the better I behave, the less I spend, the less I consume, and the less I pollute. This is a daily task.
My life, inadvertently becomes an example to others. This never really meant much to me until I experienced it with my teenager.
I realized I can talk her all day if I want, but what I do is what she subconsciously picks up on. If I want to know how well I am parenting, all I have to do is see her reactions to me and the life I’m trying to offer her.
I see more changes in her when I just behave the way I want her to behave.
What does this have to do with the state of the world and the environment?
Everything!
There is a beauty in action and body language. In truth, we are all like my teenager. We watch what everyone else is doing, subconsciously picking it up, and then behave like-wise for acceptance, love and worthiness in the eyes of others.
And this would be great, if the state of our world wasn’t in such place that it is now. We have to reverse these problems through compassionate actions. We have to consciously change our behavior and match it up to what we want to see happen, not go around telling others what needs to happen.
We have to do it.
It takes courage to live this sort of life. We have so many excuses as to why it is easier not to change, or to wait around for the next person to stand up and do it. However, this is not a meaningful life. A meaningful life is changing ourselves first, to match up with our visions of world peace.
This friend of mine on Facebook left a quote from Mother Teresa under his first post:
We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop.
Mother Teresa
Its true. We feel that the little things we are contributing aren’t enough, but Mother Teresa knew that all the small actions amount to a lot more when we consistently engage in those actions daily. Its putting a penny in the spiritual bank.
One of us alone can’t make the world peaceful nor heal the environment, but all of us taking small steps together create an ocean of action. Everything you do, day in and day out, contributes to this ocean we all live in. Are you creating a life of peace and compassion? Are you consciously improving your behavior in empowering ways?
It’s a tough road, but we are all in this together
I support whatever efforts you are putting forth, even if some days you feel like you’re taking two steps backwards. It feels like that often to me too. This is all the more reason we should work together on supporting each other.
But I’ve learned with my daughter that it is possible even when it seems dark and hopeless like the news makes us feel. Today, I talked to her about her own self-esteem. I told her that it would affect every part of her life and how very important it is. I had her sit down and watch a YouTube video about self-esteem. I told her what I wanted for her life. I want her to have good relationships with her friends, and to pursue her passions, and to take responsibility for her actions.
The best part about it is, even though she’d rather be off texting her friends and listening to music, my messages to her always come back to me later. She will tell me how she helped her friends by giving them good advice. When she repeats the advice, I hear my message come back to me from her perspective. I smile to myself when I hear these things because when I said it to her, I thought I had no effect on her.
Last week, she told me one of her school friends wanted to commit suicide. She talked to him and helped him out with these thoughts. He came by our home later to thank her. After he left, she told me that if it hadn’t been for her, he would’ve committed suicide. This is not the first friend she helped.
Is my parenting working? Some would look at our life from the outside and beg to differ. But I know I am teaching my daughter very valuable lessons about life, connections, and how to behave in a crazy world. I know the power of small steps and small conversations, what others would equate to as “not enough” for what is going on in this world.
But I agree with Mother Teresa. The power of who we are, how we behave, and what our actions stand for are far more reaching than we could ever imagine.
One drop at a time
I know in my heart we are all doing things like this to help each other. We just lose these moments in the busyness of our day. We forget what power we are giving to each other and what words are helping others. Some of us lack self-esteem and it makes it hard to internalize that we are the difference!
Now its your turn. Tell me something you’ve done today, or that somebody did for you, to make the world a better place. I know you are putting more good into this world than you probably give yourself credit for. I’d really like to hear about you. I’d also like you to share this blog with others that you know are not giving themselves enough credit for the good they put into this world.
Let’s bring our focus together on this subject by sharing our stories of how we’re helping each other just a little at a time. Just one drop in the ocean at a time. We never know who are encouraging.
Before you go to sleep tonight, look in the mirror while you’re brushing your teeth and remind yourself who you are. Tell yourself you are the difference. When you are positive with yourself, you will eventually become naturally positive with others.
Updated Feb. 23rd, 2013: Here is another article from Zoe Weil on this subject on her blog Humane Connection.
If you had the power to change what is happening to our planet, would you act on that power? When you look at your own life, and understand the constant weight from the perspective of consuming, and realize its an addiction, you start to realize what a heavy burden that is to carry.
However, we say it in different terms. We express this weight as being unfulfilled, unhappy or like something is missing from our lives. The truth is we have become so disconnected from our souls, that we no longer find meaning in what is truly important to each of us. Life. Sharing of life. Being connected with ourselves and one another. Doing happy things and feeling true contentment inside.
When you work on your own personal development with the environment and community in mind, you learn to develop yourself in an all-inclusive way. You get in touch with your soul, your passions, your loved ones and simultaneously realize that although technology is fun, it’s never as much fun as laughing with another. Material wealth cannot fulfill us, and the environment is showing us this fact.
The environment reflects the state of humanity. We all have the power to change what is happening to our world. Your soul is your power. It connects you to the Source of life, whether you call it God or something else. When you tune into that power, your wants, desires and addictions fade. Your complaints turn into compliments, your sorrow turns into gratitude. Your anxiety turns into peace. You transform into the very thing you seek to fulfill you.
Everyday activism isn’t just about money and volunteering. It’s a lifestyle choice that involves developing yourself into a happy person through contemplative reflection of who you are everyday, maybe every moment. It is also contemplative reflection on how you treat others, what you buy, how you fulfill your passions, how you manage your emotions, what choices you make. Every aspect of your life can change in a way that creates peace and stability inside you, while fulfilling your passions and joyfully connecting with others. Environmental conservation becomes a side effect of your happiness and willingness to do what is right.
Check out this trailer below. If it grabs your attention, there is a link for a 93 minute video. But please, take care of yourself today. Don’t give up. Our world needs your help and happiness.
