Alexander Solzhenitsyn said, “If you want to change the world, who do you begin with, yourself or others?”
I believe if we we begin with ourselves and do the things that we need to do and become the best person we can be, we have a much better chance of changing the world for the better.
Arianna Huffington
Inner desire to Change
When we aren’t in balance, we sense an inner desire to change. Where it comes from, I don’t know. Maybe it is our internal compass. Regardless, we begin to feel uncomfortable doing the same things that once brought us joy, happiness, and contentment. We are dissatisfied with the things or people around us and we don’t know what it is. Even before you begin identify what it is, you know: Something’s GOT To Change!
Desire to help others
Sometimes we get distracted and put our focus on helping those around us. Helping others feels good, and if we are making a difference, we should feel better, right? My answer to this might seem confusing. I would say that sometimes by helping others, we are actually just distracting ourselves from helping ourselves.
How many people do you know that seem to take care of everyone around them, but they neglect themselves? This can show up by weight gain, negative attitudes, illness, stress or just general fatigue. Some people turn to vices such as drugs, alcohol and cigarettes. One example I’m sure you have all seen is a doctor or nurse outside of their work smoking. How does this even make sense?
Where our efforts are best served…
Until we learn to take care of ourselves, our efforts are all for naught. I had heard this many times before but didn’t really understand what it meant. One day, I was listening to an inspirational CD and this question was posed:
If your energy was suddenly converted to money, you would have a certain amount in the bank. Let’s call this your Emotional Bank Account. Every time someone comes by and needs you, you give away a portion. Eventually, there is Nothing Left! How are you filling your emotional bank account?
The point was twofold. One is that we can’t just give away all that we’ve got. Two is that we need to sort out how to fill that account back up, or we aren’t any use to anyone around us!
Helping Ourselves
When we choose to help ourselves, we really are helping others. When we fill our life with activities that energize and motivate us, we fill up our emotional bank account. We actually Have More to Give!
- Take a moment to think of what activities bring you joy.
- When do you feel your happiest?
- What activities give you more energy?
- What moments bring you peace?
Your level of commitment to these activities Will Change Your Entire Life.
If you put these as your number one priority, you win. You will feel better, look better, and radiate joy. In essence, if you prioritize yourself, you become a better person on the planet.
Living as an example
The best thing you can do with your life is to live as an example of your own joy. Doing activities that bring you joy will keep you inspired. This shows, and soon other people around you will begin to see your enthusiasm. If they see someone inspired, it will catch on. You are changing the world by doing what you love and leading by example.
Letting others come to us
When I first started my business, I didn’t do this at all. I was taught to go running around and find people. I went all over for networking events. I became a public speaker. I just about made myself crazy trying to be everywhere all at once. What a nightmare!
When I decided that the best thing I could do was to take my own advice and live as an example, everything changed. I became more balanced. I set better boundaries with my time. I refused to participate in the drama. I could work on myself and my business and let people come to me.
I’ve now taken this approach with friendships, relationships, and opportunities. Rather than running all over the place, invite people to show up. Literally and figuratively, we can put out an intention and let it arrive.
Conclusion
By Living a inspirational lifestyle, you are saving the world. Your focus, friendships, and relationships will improve. You will have more energy to put towards your cause. You will be taking care of yourself and inspiring the world around you to do the same. Take a look through your list of activities that bring you joy and figure out where to put them in your schedule. Don’t forget to schedule these activities FIRST, because by helping yourself, you really are saving the world!! By building up your emotional bank account and living as an example, you will find that you actually have more to give back to everyone around you (what better example can you think of for changing the world?!?)
“Even vast sweeping social change has to start inside the mind and heart of one person at a time.”
–Lee Carrol, Indigo Children
