Be the change you want to see in the world
Would you consider yourself selfless? If you do, that’s wonderful because there needs to be a greater sense of selflessness in our world nowadays. Our world has become a selfish society in which we primarily look out for our own needs. It’s a dog eat dog world. But I don’t blame people for being that way. Society has shaped our behavior to be this way. How? Some examples I’ve heard throughout my lifetime:
A person falls down on his/her fault and a stranger comes to help the fallen individual. The fallen individual ends up claiming that the stranger pushed him/her and sues for damages.
A manager at work screws up. Well, he/she doesn’t want to take the fall, let’s just blame it on somebody below him/her.
The above are selfish (and absurd) actions that real life people take. It’s easier to put the blame on a scapegoat than to place the hit on oneself. So essentially that’s why people, in turn, become selfish as well.
“If somebody doesn’t look out for me, why should I do it for someone else?”
“I wouldn’t get anything out of helping this person out.”
“I wouldn’t get recognition for my actions, so why waste my efforts?”
No selfless act is a waste of effort. Every selfless act, whether actually commended or not, is an action that will drive the world to be a better place. Wouldn’t you want to live in a better world? Why wouldn’t you? You live in it every day! And while you may be thinking that your selfless acts won’t change the world, you’d be surprised. Your selfless act can touch another person’s life. This can become a continuous chain that can reach any and all parts of the world. You may not ever know it, but it can all start from you. And you know what, it will eventually make its way right back to you.
Don’t live your life based on what society has forced upon you. Move with the good, but rebel against the bad. Selfishness is bad. So if you think the world is a cruel dark place, make it bright and happy. Don’t join the crowd. Lead your own crowd! If the world is a mean arena, stand out from everyone else and be the opposite.
Ghandi said it best: “Be the change you want to see in the world.”
Do you want to change the world? In a positive way? Then become that change and see the amazing things that will happen.
The best story on selflessness that I have ever heard is about Sir Nicholas Winton. He was a man who saved 669 children from the Nazi concentration camps and never told a single person, even his own wife, for 50 years! This is truly a man who did not need the recognition for his unbelievably selfless feat. What an incredible story to tell! Yet Nicholas Winton was able to hold it all in. He did not need the recognition. He just knew that what he did was the right thing and that’s all that mattered. It wasn’t until his wife discovered a book that contained the names of all the children he saved and convinced him to go public with his story that his heroic feats came to light. You can read more about him here: http://www.winton.dk/
And the above video is when Winton met with the people that he saved for the first time. This is a classic example of how selfless acts will always come back to thank you, even if it is 50 years later!
Set an example in the world. Any small feat counts. Start today :)
I’m not affiliated with the American Red Cross, but I do believe that no effort is considered small when it is to help others, so please, if you can, donate to help out the Red Cross in its Earthquake/Tsunami relief in Japan. Spread the word to your friends and family. I’ve provided the link straight to the donation page below for your convenience. Thank you all.
American Red Cross - Japan’s Earthquake & Tsunami Relief
