How To Make A Difference To The World
Photo by The Wandering Angel
By Mark Foo
Many people believe that they don’t have what it takes to make a difference to the world. They believe only people like Mahatma Gandhi, Mother Theresa, Thomas Edison, Albert Einstein, Bill Gates, and the likes, are capable of making a difference.
The truth is, every one of us is put in this world to contribute and make a difference to the world in our own unique way. It need not be anything out of the world. It just needs to be something you do with the intention of ‘doing good’.
The following is a guide as to how small people like us can make a difference to the world.
How To Make a Difference
1. It Need Not Be an Enormous Task
“If you can’t feed a hundred people, then feed just one.” – Mother Teresa
You already have what it takes to make the world a better place. Making a difference to the world may seem like an enormous task, but it is in fact the collective effort of everyone to make small contributions with a lot of heart.
The size of the contribution is not what matters most. The key here is to have the heart to do it.
2. Start Now
“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” – Anne Frank
There is no one best time to start to make a difference to the world. You don’t need to wait till you have the time to share some love; you don’t have to wait till you make more money to share a slice of bread. Little efforts count, and you can start making small contributions today.
3. Your Contribution is Never Too Small
“Nobody can do everything, but everyone can do something.” – Author Unknown
If you think that everything has been taken care of by somebody and your contribution is not going to make much of a difference, then you’re wrong. Can you imagine if everyone else starts to think the same way?
In fact, it is our responsibility to seek ways to contribute, large and small. You don’t have to be concerned you’re only capable of making small contributions. What counts is the effort.
4. The Greatest Gifts of All
“Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.” – Buddha
Happiness and love are the two greatest gifts you can give to the world. Too often, we’re too indulged in our own gratifications that we forget there are people in this world whom we can make a little happier and feel more loved.
As the saying goes, “To receive, you must first give.” The more you give, the more you’ll receive. Let us remind ourselves that in order to receive more happiness and love, let’s spread more of them first.
5. Empower Other People
“Abilities wither under criticism; they blossom under encouragement.” – Dale Carnegie
You can change the world by helping one person at a time. One of the ways to help someone is to empower the person. But how do you empower a person? Well, one of the ways is to be generous in giving praise and encouragement instead of criticism.
By praising and encouraging the person, you’d have helped him/her to accomplish what he/she is meant to be, and that would lead to more value being added to the world.
6. Seek to Make a Long-Lasting Effect
“The greatest good you can do for another is not just to share your riches but to reveal to him his own.” – Benjamin Disraeli
This is Mr Disraeli’s version of ‘give a man a fish; you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish, you feed him for a lifetime.’
The good that we seek to do will make more of a difference when there’s a long-lasting effect rather than a temporary effect. For example, if we make contributions to build a school, it will benefit many people for years to come.
And when more people receive education, they will in turn provide more value to the world.
7. Stop Whining and Do Something
“If you have time to whine and complain about something then you have the time to do something about it.” – Anthony J. D’Angelo
All the whining and complaining in the world is not going to make a difference to the world. It will only drain you of your precious energy from doing things that do make a difference.
Instead of whining and complaining, seek to use the time more productively by engaging in activities that matter. When it comes to making a difference, nothing matters more than taking actions.
8. Lead the Way
“A good example has twice the value of good advice.” – Author Unknown
Other than doing things to make a difference, we should also seek to influence others to start doing things that make a difference. And the best way to convince other people is to lead by example.
Start doing whatever is within your ability today. Start showing more concern and love to the people around you. Start to make monthly donations to your favourite charity. Start putting more effort in your work to increase the value output.
Every effort counts, no matter how small and insignificant it may seem. Just do something, and do something good.
Do you have other suggestions on how we can make a difference to the world? Please share them in the comment section below.
About the author: Mark Foo is a Personal Development Blogger @ TheBigDreamer.com where he writes about Success, Personal Finance, Wealth Creation and Entreprenership to help people become better , wiser and richer. Visit http://www.thebigdreamer.com to read more of his works now.
You might also like:
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- Personal Mission Statement
- How to Stop Procrastinating & Start Writing That Book Inside You
- What Is Love?
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23 Comments
March 9th, 2009 at 1:57 pm
Thanks for this post. I’ve become more convinced recently that one of the biggest contributions I can make to the world is just giving someone my full attention when I’m talking to them, and letting them know that way that they’re valued and appreciated. It may seem minor at first glance, but several people have told me it’s a great gift.
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March 9th, 2009 at 11:00 pm
I love reading this stuff just before heading to work! It really gives me reason and will to live my day to the fullest and try to make a difference to other people’s lives. Mindfulness and compassion is something I try to practice daily when speaking to others, it’s a win win situation to get yourself into!
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March 10th, 2009 at 12:04 am
This is a really awesome post, one thing I am reminded of, since you mentioned Mahatma Gandhi, was his quote: “prayer is not an old woman’s idle amusement, properly understood and applied it is the most potent instrument of action.” I think he was speaking literally, so for me this is a great way to make a difference in the world.
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March 10th, 2009 at 12:09 am
Hi Mark
I love the phrase .. happiness and love are the two greatest gifts we can give the world .. whether that world is just around us, or if we’re lucky to a wider world ..
We have the heart and we just need to start .. and we need to acknowledge everyone and say thank you for the things we receive, or are done for our loved ones …
Many thanks – Hilary: Be Positive Be Happy
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March 10th, 2009 at 1:43 am
Hi Mark,
Sometimes we think that our effort are too small to be recognize but if everyone is thinking like this, then there will be no one making the effort to make the world a better place. So the thing to do is to just do something, a small effort is better than no effort.
Cheers
Vincent
Personal Development Blogger
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March 10th, 2009 at 6:03 am
Mark,
Thank you for this guest post; it is very inspiring!
I like the way you focus on helping people develop the right attitude. That is, we can each make a positive difference to the world if we are willing to accept this fact, stop making excuses and just get on with it (no matter how small it is!).
Peter Clemens
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March 10th, 2009 at 6:13 am
Absolutely great post!
It’s good to help people, I personally don’t have the resources to do large things for people, so I always try to help with small things. You don’t have to be rich to help other people!
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March 10th, 2009 at 8:28 am
@Chris Edgar: You’re spot on! Giving someone your full attention will indeed make him/her feel much valued and appreciated. And it is definitely a great gift, both to you and people you pay attention to.
@Chris: I’m glad this article has inspired you to make a difference to the world in your own unique way. Now I know this article has achieved its objective of making a difference to the world for it has inspired you.
@Julian: I’m glad you like the post. And thank you for sharing another of Mahatma Ghandi’s quote. He was indeed a very wise man.
@Hillary: I agree with you. We need to say ‘Thank You’ for everything we receive and appreciate our own good fortune.
@Vincent: Yes, a small effort is better than no effort. We don’t have to be concerned about the size of the effort as long as it comes from the bottom of your heart. Nothing beats something that comes from the heart.
@Peter: Thank you for accepting this guest post! It’s been my honour and pleasure. And I like your attitude of stop making excuses and just get on with it. Awesome!
@Arjen: Thank you for your comment. I’m glad you enjoyed this article. And you’re right. You don’t have to be rich to help other people. I hope more people will think the same way.
Thank you guys for sharing your thoughts. It’s been a great pleasure to hear from you.
Cheers~
Mark
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March 10th, 2009 at 1:11 pm
I agree with your first point. It’s a bit of a snow ball effect. Much like creating a habit, it is probably best that the task is not enourmous.
I would also add to your list that a lot of people would make a difference in the world if more people would take responsibility for their actions. This coincides with a previous article on this blog, 5 Fundamentals for Success in Life.
Very nice post!
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March 11th, 2009 at 9:43 am
I like this saying:
“Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.” – Buddha
Once I talked tomy friend and ask him if he like what he was doing for a living. He said not really.
I ask why?
He said that his current job is not making a big difference for people.
I ask what didn”t he find different job and make a difference.
He said that “I want to make a big difference but it is only me and there is nothing I can do, so I would rather stay where I am”
Most people just don’t believe they can make a difference so they don’t even try
Great post
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March 11th, 2009 at 10:38 am
Excellent post Mark, I love points 2 and 3. So simple yet so true!
Great guest post.
Cheers,
Glen
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March 11th, 2009 at 8:51 pm
Beautiful post. Thank you.
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March 12th, 2009 at 1:37 am
@Happiness is Better: I agree with you about the snow ball effect. A huge amount of small contributions make up to a large amount of differences.
@Peter Levin: It’s sad that people don’t see the value in small contributions. Even small value is better than no value.
@Glen: I’m glad you like the post. There are a lot of things in life that are simple yet powerful. More often than not, human beings like to turn simple things into something complicated just so to prove their ’sophistication’.
Cheers~
Mark
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March 12th, 2009 at 1:43 am
@Happiness is Better: I agree with you about the snow ball effect. A huge amount of small contributions make up to a large amount of differences.
@Peter Levin: It’s sad that people don’t see the value in small contributions. Even small value is better than no value.
@Glen: I’m glad you like the post. There are a lot of things in life that are simple yet powerful. More often than not, human beings like to turn simple things into something complicated just so to prove their ’sophistication’.
Cheers~
Reply
March 12th, 2009 at 3:41 pm
Hi Mark,
Just wanted to say that this is a really great read! #5 stands out to me a lot. It is also my life goal. I love encouraging people, especially teenagers, to be all they can be.
Cheers,
Jeremy
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March 12th, 2009 at 8:25 pm
@Jeremy: Glad that you enjoyed it! I, too, do my best to encourage people whenever I can. This will not only empower them, but will also empower myself. It’s a great feeling.
Cheers~
Mark
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March 13th, 2009 at 6:03 am
Hi Mark I could not agree more witht he statment
“All the whining and complaining in the world is not going to make a difference to the world. It will only drain you of your precious energy from doing things that do make a difference.”
I myself feel SO much better when I don”t focus on “What is” but simply on how I would like things to be! That is a so much better feeling isn’t!
thanks for your post
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March 13th, 2009 at 9:19 pm
Hey don’t we all have a little megalomania in us? After all, our thoughts are the only ones running through our head, and what we do throughout the day is the only thing we see. So, when we think of changing the world, we tend to look at it from perceptive of a megalomaniac. Hoards of people whispering to one another, pointing in our direction, ‘is that him?’, ‘there he is…that is him!!!!!’
Then we walk into the room like Bono, Tony Robbins, or the Dalai Llama, a rockstar in our own right. We own the crowd and their adoration. We are a demigod.
Ok, so maybe you have no idea what I’m talking about, but that is what my personal view of “changing the world” first emerged as.
Over time I’ve realized that concept was based in immaturity, ego, and too much TV.
I like the pond & ripples analogy. Everything I do when coming in contact with another person has the ability to ripple through the lives of millions of people through the vessel of emotional contagion that can end up manifesting as a tidal wave – of love, jealousy, introspection, sarcasm, empathy, or courage – crashing on the shore of some tropical island half way around the world.
But there will be no whispering crowds, and even if there were, in reality, it would probably just make me uncomfortable.
Derek @ NüHabits
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March 26th, 2009 at 6:18 pm
Every life matters. Everyone has value. Little things mean a lot.
This is a wonderful post!
“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.” — Dr. Leonardo Buscaglia
“For it is in giving that we receive.” — St. Francis of Assisi
“Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.” — Mother Teresa
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April 15th, 2009 at 7:18 am
This site was very helpful. I was researching info for my next blog post and came across this, some really great tips. I especially like #7! I linked this post to my blog which will come up later this week, check it out…www.veeda.tumblr.com
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January 4th, 2010 at 12:01 pm
Great Work .. Magnificent!
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