Change Starts with You and Change Starts Now

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

Wouldn’t it be great if you could flip a switch and change the world? I’ve often thought about how nice it would be, to be able to rid the world of all negativities.

Of course, I know there’s no magical solution but what I do know is that there are a few simple concepts that, when practiced regularly, could change your life a bit for the better and perhaps the lives of others around you. And quite honestly, I think our world could use some change so why not let it start with each of us?   

Before I go on, please know that this is not a political post, nor is it a declaration of me thinking I have the answers to change the world. It’s simply a viewpoint on a couple fun and simple steps we can all take to be better and be kinder. And no matter what your beliefs are, I would hope you always strive for kindness and to be your best. So please read on…

Be Present – Try being in the now, fully present in the moment, fully present in your life. So many people go through life either worrying about the future or stuck in the past. And those who are in the moment, often can’t wait for it to be over. But what if we decided to just be fully present and let ourselves experience each moment? All actions and quality connections happen in the present so rather than wishing it away, let’s roll up our sleeves and get to work on creating change. Let’s try being in the now and making an active effort for positive change. And by all means, let’s start being fully present with people so we can connect on a deeper level with those around us.  

Try This: When you walk into a room where you know you’re going to interact with others, pause and take a deep breath. Notice your feet on the floor, the rise and fall of your breath, and the expression on your face. Release the thoughts in your head and then focus on the face of the person you are interacting with. When you catch your thoughts drifting to the past or future, pull them back into the present moment. This can work when you’re wanting to focus on a task or action as well. You can add a sensory cue such as closing your eyes and listening to the sounds around you. Try to identify what you can hear the farthest away, then what the closest sound is. As you do that, you bring your mind into the present and can then move into action.

Be Positive – Sadly, there are a lot of people in the world who focus more on the negative than the positive. Sometimes it’s subtle, like doubting yourself or worrying that something will go wrong instead of right. But sometimes, it’s not so subtle. If you watch the news or scroll too far on social media, it’s likely you’ll feel the effects of negativity. You can just about look anywhere and see anger, hate, disrespect, and division among people. It makes me sad… And my guess is, it makes you sad too. So, think about this, what if we started to speak more positively to and about others? What if we started to seek solutions rather than being stuck in problems? What if we took a kinder and more positive approach with everyone we encounter?

Try This: For every negative, give two positives. In other words, if you think or say something negative, you must add double the positives, no matter what it is you’re thinking or talking about. The idea of that action would be to create a more positive demeanor overall. One way you can do this is by using the statement prompt, “Yes, and…” Because yes, sometimes there is something negative to address but there is always a way to add the positive if you focus on it. And what we focus on matters.

Now what if we did all the above, on a bigger scale than just for ourselves? Which is exactly the last point I want to make clear here…

Although yes, when we are being fully present and positive, we can be a better version of ourselves and that is very important to our own happiness and success. What I want to make quite clear though, is how these things affect others. Sure, it will affect those closest to us, but we are at a point in time where the world needs each and every one of us at our best. The world needs us to start speaking positive words to everyone we encounter and seeking solutions for the greater good instead of focusing on the problems and staying stuck in negativity. And yes, it is essential that we do all this within our own lives, with those closest to us. But it is also so very critical that we start doing it on a bigger scale. For and with people we may not even know. If we do want our world to change, we must start by being that change. And it won’t happen by wishing for change, it will happen by declaring change and growth then stepping into the present fully and starting to work for positive change.

I want to leave you today with this final thought, although the principles above seem to be small simple concepts and I certainly know they are not the answer to all the world’s problems, we must start somewhere. And we must start now, to be the change we want to see in the world. So if you don’t know where to start, you can at least start here, in the now. Not speaking negativity nor being silent any longer but speaking of positive solutions and with love and kindness towards everyone.

Are you ready to HEROICALLY step up to bring change to the world? Join the movement and let the change begin within you. Click HERE to get free access to the best personal growth and development app I've ever used. Together, let's be the change!