10 Things That Even You Can Do to Change the World
Each and every day, we’re inundated with stories about how the world
is going to hell. War, poverty, pollution… all manner of atrocities are
flung at us from all directions, and it’s enough to draw even the most
lighthearted person into a pit of despair.
Fortunately, a great way to counteract all that ugly is to be the change we want to see. None of us can change the entire world all by ourselves, but by making small amendments in our own lives and encouraging others to do the same, a snowball effect occurs that can affect the entire planet in time. Here are a few simple ways that you (yes, even you) can help bring about positive change in the world:
Websites like The Daily Good, Positive News, and even Huffington Post’s “Good News” section are all filled with uplifting stories that can serve to remind you that there’s a hell of a lot of good in the world. Once your heart is glowing, tweet, and pin those stories so others can be inspired as well.
If you don’t have your own land but have a thoroughly green thumb, consider getting involved in a community garden project: you’ll help others to develop their gardening skills, help to empower them by showing them how to be self-sufficient with their food security, and that garden will become a supportive ecosystem to all kinds of insects and small animals.
Fortunately, a great way to counteract all that ugly is to be the change we want to see. None of us can change the entire world all by ourselves, but by making small amendments in our own lives and encouraging others to do the same, a snowball effect occurs that can affect the entire planet in time. Here are a few simple ways that you (yes, even you) can help bring about positive change in the world:
Share Positivity
For every bit of horrible dreck floating about on the Internet or in the news, there’s an amazing, beautiful story to counteract it. Stop wallowing in the fear-mongering ugliness that the general media tries to fling at you, and instead, let yourself be inspired by the wonder, beauty, and compassion in the world.Websites like The Daily Good, Positive News, and even Huffington Post’s “Good News” section are all filled with uplifting stories that can serve to remind you that there’s a hell of a lot of good in the world. Once your heart is glowing, tweet, and pin those stories so others can be inspired as well.
Plant a Garden
You’d be surprised what a little patch of green space can do for the environment, and if you have a bit of land that you can turn into a garden, you’ll make more of an impact in your corner of the planet than you realise. Planting and harvesting your own food means that less has to be carted in from other countries, which decreases the amount of fuel that’ll be shot off into the atmosphere. If instead of food you’d like a flower and herb garden, plant flowers that attract and feed pollinators like bees, butterflies, and birds: they’re disappearing at an alarming rate because of pesticide and insecticide use, so an organic garden full of delicious blossom and seeding plants (like sunflowers, amaranth, and millet) will help exponentially.If you don’t have your own land but have a thoroughly green thumb, consider getting involved in a community garden project: you’ll help others to develop their gardening skills, help to empower them by showing them how to be self-sufficient with their food security, and that garden will become a supportive ecosystem to all kinds of insects and small animals.
Meditate
You don’t have to follow any particular religion or philosophy to meditate, and nor does meditation have to involve sitting cross-legged on the floor while chanting in a language you don’t understand. Ultimately, meditation is just a mindfulness practice that involves calming your thoughts and emotions so you can be in the present moment. This helps to calm frayed nerves to alleviate stress and anxiety, and creates a sense of peace and tranquility of spirit. That inner peace reflects upon all other facets of life: you may have more patience with others, or have greater self esteem, or even just be able to appreciate the little bits of beauty you come across instead of being swamped by all the negativity in the world.Speak Up, and Take Action
If there are issues that concern you, use your voice to bring attention to them. Sign petitions, write letters to your member of parliament, make an appointment to sit down with someone who has the power to change things, and discuss your worries with them. If someone you know treats another badly, then call them out on their bad behaviour: saying nothing is basically just condoning said poor behaviour, and will make the one getting hurt feel that no-one is there to support or defend them.⌄ Scroll down to continue reading article ⌄
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Clean Up
You’re probably quite vigilant with regard to disposing of garbage properly, but others may not be quite so conscientious. If you see a piece of rubbish lying about that some jerk has tossed out their car window or just dropped on the ground, throw it out. Keep a pair of rubber or latex gloves in your bag if you don’t want to touch anything that’s potentially “icky”, but keep in mind that every little bit of effort helps when it comes to cleaning up our living spaces.If you live in Canada and love all things aquatic, consider getting involved in the David Suzuki Foundation’s Great Shoreline Cleanup: join forces with others to clean up rivers, lake shores, ponds, creeks, and even beaches along the ocean. There are similar initiatives in other countries, so just do a quick search for environmental clean-up groups in your area, and get involved!
On that very topic…
Stop Polluting the Water
Have you ever been thirsty? I mean, truly parched? So thirsty that your throat started to close up and your lips were cracking and you thought you were going to die? Consider the fact that our bodies are comprised of nearly 70% water, and nearly all animals and plants require water to survive. Then think about the fact that only 2% of all water on earth is drinkable, and a significant amount of that is now polluted because of all the crap we keep dumping into it. Every drop of chemical cleaner, every drop of hair dye, every bit of pesticide, paint, non-biodegradable laundry detergent, toilet bowl cleaner, etc. gets into the water system, and although the drinking water in cities is filtered a great deal, most of those toxins still leak into the soil and underground water table, killing life around the planet. People and animals all over the world often have to choose between dying of thirst, and poisoning themselves with tainted water supplies.Be very conscious about what it is you pour down your drains or use on your lawns, and try to be as eco-friendly as possible. If you dye your hair, try plant-based dyes or henna instead. Instead of harsh household cleaners, all you really need are vinegar, baking soda, and essential oils. To help take action for clean drinking water, look into groups like Waterkeeper Alliance, which has chapters all over the world that you can get involved with.
Reconsider Your Eating Habits
Write a list of the items you normally buy at the grocery store, and consider doing a bit of research on where these items come from. Does your favourite brand use mostly GMO ingredients? If you eat meat, is it from local sources where the animals are treated ethically? Are your eggs free-range, or do they come from a place where the birds are crammed into small cages? Is the sugar you buy harvested by children? Are your organic vegetables picked by people who earn a living wage?Delve into the sources of your food and determine whether you’re contributing to the well-being of others, or if your habits could be a little more compassionate and conscientious.
Find Out More About What You Buy/Wear/Use
Just like food, clothing has to come from somewhere, but few people take the time to really research the origins of their clothes. Does the company that makes your shirt source pesticide-laden cotton from a developing country? Have your jeans been sewn by children’s hands in Thailand or India? Were any animals harmed to source real fur trim for your jacket or boots? Was any water polluted to create the PVC in your bag or shoes? Educate yourself so that you can educate others, and speak out against mistreatment when you come across it.Volunteer
There are many different ways to donate your time to others, so don’t feel that you have to put yourself in a position you’re uncomfortable with in order to make a difference. Some people might be happy working in soup kitchens or helping street youth, while others may not, and that’s totally okay! There are volunteer opportunities for people of every age, profession, and physical ability.If you like the outdoors, consider doing some volunteer work to help clean up parks. Are you an animal lover? Offer to walk dogs at an animal shelter a few times a month, or maybe help to campaign for the World Wildlife Fund, SPCA, etc. Are you a super-busy professional? Consider donating an hour or so a month to help mentor young people who wish to follow in your footsteps. Are you crafty? You can use up spare yarn by knitting or crocheting warm hats, scarves, and mittens for those in need, like women and children in shelters, or even overseas orphans and refugees. Trust that there’s charity work that’s perfectly suited for you out there, and it doesn’t take a lot of effort to make a dramatic difference in another’s life.
Be Kinder
We all get frustrated and upset on occasion, but the energy that we put out into the universe tends to have a domino effect: the person you yelled at in traffic might take their frustrations out on a barista, who’ll then go home and yell at her kids because she’s had a bad day, and the kids will fight with one another because they don’t know how to handle the negativity that’s been forced upon them. On and on it goes, with the web of hostility growing larger and larger as it sweeps through the population.If you find yourself irritated or frustrated by a situation, take a step back and really consider what’s going on. Is this an opportunity for you to be more patient? What can you learn from this situation? If you change your tone and be more compassionate with the others involved, can you achieve a more positive outcome?
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Last Updated on April 27, 2020
How to Love Yourself And Embrace Who You Really Are
How do you love yourself?
To love yourself is to experience freedom – freedom from doubt, self-hate, and oppression created by you.
To love yourself is to no longer hold yourself back from what you deserve.
To love yourself is to grow and enjoy your life.
Self-love is a necessity if you want to live a truly happy life. Self-love is a choice, a commitment to yourself that you are going to love yourself, despite all the social and biological obstacles in your path. It is not found in a place, person or item.
You can love someone even if you don’t love yourself. To say otherwise would be untrue. You can experience and express love even if you do not love yourself.
What you can’t do is expect that person to fill the void in your life that isn’t filled with your love for yourself. You can’t find that love in anyone or anything.
Self-love is chosen, forged, practiced, and fought. It isn’t always easy, but you can never find it in the arms of another person.
You achieve self-love by deciding that you want it. After a lifetime of hating yourself for not being enough, you have to choose to let go of this toxic mindset. Choose to say no to all the internal self-hate, and choose to tell yourself the truth that you are not perfect and that is okay.
To start this, give yourself permission to love yourself. You are worthy of being loved, even if you tell yourself you’re not. Take a moment to tell yourself this and permit yourself to love yourself.
This is the first step in accepting that you can love yourself and that you are choosing it.
You don’t have to be something else to have worth or to be good enough. Who you are right now, is enough.
People may not like you and that is okay because the point of self-love is that it doesn’t matter what other people think of you. What only matters is what you think of yourself.
That starts with accepting that you are who you are and having faith that there is nothing wrong with that.
We are all different people from who we were 10 years ago, which means self-love isn’t just learning to love yourself once. It is about falling and being in love with yourself as you change and grow.
You don’t achieve self-love; you travel with it as you discover who you are.
Don’t let that stop you from loving yourself. It is easy to hate yourself for not being perfect or enough. But this only creates self-hate because instead of focusing on all that you have, you are focused on all that you are not.
Self-love blooms in a mindset of abundance, which means you have to see all that you have and feel gratitude for it. Self-love struggles, wilts, and dies in a mindset that is rooted in perfection, aka never good enough.
To love yourself is to experience freedom – freedom from doubt, self-hate, and oppression created by you.
To love yourself is to no longer hold yourself back from what you deserve.
To love yourself is to grow and enjoy your life.
Self-love is a necessity if you want to live a truly happy life. Self-love is a choice, a commitment to yourself that you are going to love yourself, despite all the social and biological obstacles in your path. It is not found in a place, person or item.
Can You Love Someone If You Don’t Love Yourself?
We hear this a lot – that you can’t love someone if you don’t love yourself. But that simply isn’t true.You can love someone even if you don’t love yourself. To say otherwise would be untrue. You can experience and express love even if you do not love yourself.
What you can’t do is expect that person to fill the void in your life that isn’t filled with your love for yourself. You can’t find that love in anyone or anything.
Self-love is chosen, forged, practiced, and fought. It isn’t always easy, but you can never find it in the arms of another person.
What Do You Need to Do to Love Yourself?
1. Choose to Do It
Self-love is a choice; it isn’t handed to you. It is not found in someone else or an object.You achieve self-love by deciding that you want it. After a lifetime of hating yourself for not being enough, you have to choose to let go of this toxic mindset. Choose to say no to all the internal self-hate, and choose to tell yourself the truth that you are not perfect and that is okay.
To start this, give yourself permission to love yourself. You are worthy of being loved, even if you tell yourself you’re not. Take a moment to tell yourself this and permit yourself to love yourself.
This is the first step in accepting that you can love yourself and that you are choosing it.
2. Achieve Self Acceptance
You are who you are, and there is nothing wrong with that.You don’t have to be something else to have worth or to be good enough. Who you are right now, is enough.
People may not like you and that is okay because the point of self-love is that it doesn’t matter what other people think of you. What only matters is what you think of yourself.
That starts with accepting that you are who you are and having faith that there is nothing wrong with that.
3. Know That Self-Love Is an Endless Journey
As we go through life, we grow, change, learn, and become entirely new different people.We are all different people from who we were 10 years ago, which means self-love isn’t just learning to love yourself once. It is about falling and being in love with yourself as you change and grow.
You don’t achieve self-love; you travel with it as you discover who you are.
4. Let Go of the Idea of Perfection
You are never going to be perfect; no human will ever be.Don’t let that stop you from loving yourself. It is easy to hate yourself for not being perfect or enough. But this only creates self-hate because instead of focusing on all that you have, you are focused on all that you are not.
Self-love blooms in a mindset of abundance, which means you have to see all that you have and feel gratitude for it. Self-love struggles, wilts, and dies in a mindset that is rooted in perfection, aka never good enough.
⌄ Scroll down to continue reading article ⌄
Here's your guide to getting unstuck and regaining motivation!
5. Identify the Difference Between Truth And Opinion
Self-love starts by changing the way you think and see yourself. This all starts with our internal narrative and the stories we tell ourselves.An example of our stories would be:
“I can’t do this because I am too (something like clumsy, stupid, weak, etc.).”
These stories come in many forms, such as:
“I cannot have this in my life because (I am not good enough, this is not meant for me, If I was like this, I could get what I want).”
“I am (Insert negative adjective).”
Taking a good hard look at your internal rhetoric can be revealing as to why you have struggled to love yourself.
When you are down on yourself, it is because, at some point in time, someone or something made you feel not good enough. It could have been a comment from a family member, a judgemental magazine article, or a random video you watched.
It made you question your worth, and you took this knowledge and used it to hate yourself.
What I want you to realize is that most of these thoughts aren’t facts. They are only our opinions of ourselves, but we treat these opinions as facts – irrefutable facts.
When we tell ourselves we can’t do something, we won’t be able to. It is a self-fulfilling prophecy that confirms in our brains that our opinions are facts.
When you say I cannot or I can’t or this isn’t meant for me, you kill 2 things:
- Hope – you decided you cannot, so there is no reason to try.
- Growth – you cut off the opportunity to try, fail and grow.
Fact Versus Opinion
Let’s break this down to the basics:A fact is a thing that is known or proven to be true.
An opinion is a view or judgment formed about something, which is not necessarily based on fact or knowledge.
For example:
It is a fact that an orange has a peel.
It is an opinion that the orange is round and therefore unattractive.
Let me translate.
It is a fact that you have fat on your body
It is an opinion that having that fat makes you an unworthy person.
Example 2:
“I cannot apply for this new job, because I am not qualified”
Let’s deconstruct, there is one fact in this sentence and that is I am not qualified. This is just a fact, you are not qualified for a position, you have then placed an opinion upon it.
I cannot apply.
I cannot = I am not good enough.
Your worth isn’t dependant on your qualifications. Factually, you can apply for this position even if you are not qualified.
We give power to facts, and we can decide if it’s positive or negative, self-destructive or empowering. It is time to let go of these opinions and change them.
6. Learn That Failure Is Your Friend
When we fail, we use that as an excuse to hate ourselves for not being good enough. But you have it all wrong.Failure is growth. Instead of focusing on how you aren’t good enough, focus on what you learned.
How did you grow? How can you apply this knowledge in the future? The faster you fail, the faster you grow!
Don’t let failure be the reason you hate yourself. Choose to love it and laugh at yourself when you fail. Laugh, get back up, think about how you can grow from this, and move forward.
You are going to fail a lot in your life, so you might as well have it on your side and when you do. It will grow and foster self-love.
7. Learn How to Not Take Things Personally
The thing about life is that it isn’t all about you.We are bombarded with negativity, and most of the time, we find ways to be offended as well, even unconsciously. This is biology at work, but now it’s time to let go of this defense mechanism.
To stop taking things very personally:
- Know that the comments that hurt you aren’t about you at all. See it from the other person’s perspective. 50% of the time, it isn’t even about it. It can be redirected aggression or maybe you just happen to be the one in that situation.
- It may be about you, and you need to show yourself some empathy. Be vulnerable and kind to yourself, and talk in a non-judgemental way to the person who offended you.
Not every negative thing is about you. The world is bigger than just you.
Final Thoughts
If you want to learn how to love yourself, the most important thing you have to do is commit to learning all about it.Like life, you will grow and change by continuously learning new ways to love yourself and express who you really are, and you will be happy.
For more information on how to love yourself, here is another article with more detailed instructions: Learning To Love Yourself.
And always remember: you are worth loving.
More Self-Love Tips
- 17 Ways to Learn to Love Yourself and Be Happy
- How to Love Yourself, Even if No One Else Does
- 30 Ways to Practice Self-Love and Be Good to Yourself
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