“Think one person can’t make a difference? Try spending the night in a room with a mosquito.”
Paraphrasing Gandhi!
Most of us have a deep, inner calling to make a difference to the world.
Yet it can be so easy to fall into the trap of thinking “I can’t make a difference” or “who am I to take this on?”.
We all know how it works: it’s as though a fear of failure – or perhaps the even greater fear of success – keeps us from diving in and doing what we feel truly called to do. Sometimes the calling is so strong that ignoring it can lead to us feeling down and can even create “dis-ease” on a physical level.
We can put off stepping onto our “real path” for years, waiting until we feel “ready”. But the catch is: we rarely feel “ready”.
There will always be someone who knows more than you. There will always be someone who has more experience than you. There will always be someone who seems to have got there first.
Yet each of us can make a difference to the world – starting today. If we wait till we’re “ready”, there are so many people who will have missed out on what we have to share. Whatever your dream, whatever your calling, there’s no point in waiting till the circumstances are perfect – they never will be!
You don’t have to dive in to start – you can just dip your toe in the water.
The great thing is we don’t have to start with the big stuff.
We can start with the baby steps that make a difference to the world, one breath at a time.
Even sharing a smile with someone could lift their mood (and yours!) and start making a difference to the world.
Perhaps you could perform a random act of kindness, without expectation of gratitude or anything in return?
The amazing thing is that these baby steps soon build momentum. It becomes easier to see ways in which we – as individuals – could make a difference.
And then taking action becomes something we have to do – overcoming any fears or feelings of inadequacy.
If you have a secret yearning to make a difference to the world, one of the best ways to start is to share that yearning with someone.
It can be hard to open up and tell friends and loved ones, perhaps for fear of ridicule or embarrassment.
So I’m offering you a helping hand.
If you want to change the world – and want to tell someone about it – how about telling me? Making that commitment to get started or up your game is so much easier, if there’s someone there to acknowledge your courage. If you want to go public, you could post your dream on in the comments section for this post.
If you have a friend or family member you could tell, do so! Choose someone who you know will react supportively. Stepping onto your path might take less courage than you think, if you build a good support team around you.
The world needs you now. And you will never be more ready than in this moment.
Thank you for stepping on to your path.
Let me know how you get on!
With love,
Clare x
Let’s zip forward a few years. Let’s imagine it’s your 80th birthday party.
The sad thing is that most of us aren’t ready to even admit there might be a path of bliss for us to follow.
“I hate my job,” says a friend, “but there’s nothing else out there.”