We often think much less of ourselves than we ought to, or at least less so than others do. We seem to hold such high standards for ourselves. When we can’t reach those standards, we compromise by feeling ‘just okay’ (or worse, terrible) about ourselves (because can we ever truly reach that level of achievement?). There are so many reasons for this – childhood conditioning, societal conditioning, and ‘comparisonitis,’ particularly. But at the end of the day, the only true barrier to feeling amazing about ourselves is, well, ourselves. Sadly, we are blinded to our own brilliance – both to our potential and to our present capability as incredible humans. When you actually understand how you can make a difference in the world, this pitiful thinking goes out the window. And good riddance, it couldn’t happen soon enough!
Understand the Hidden Ways in Which You Always Make an Impact
Most people believe that, in order to make a difference in the world, you have to go out and do something meaningful for somebody else. This is absolutely true and there are so many wonderful ways you can share your time, energy, resources and talents to benefit others (as well as create your own joy in the process). There are many great ideas for small ways to make a big difference that I love and recommend. But the opportunities hardly stop here. You can in fact make a huge difference just by nurturing yourself and improving your own life for the better. This is because the ripple effects of you becoming a better version of yourself stretch beyond what you can imagine.
A Meaningful Focus on Yourself Benefits You and Everybody Else
There are many benefits to self-care and inner healing. Self-care and healing practices are crucial for any person to live their best life. But it is important to understand that the benefits do not stop with you. And everybody should either throw the word ‘selfish’ out of their vocabulary or, rather, strip it of its negative connotation. Because it is good, essential and generous to take care of yourself and to do things that some naïve people misinterpret as selfish (typically this only occurs when someone wants you or your time or resources to their self at the expense of your well-being or autonomy). This should be common knowledge but it is important to reiterate in case there is any lingering shame surrounding self-care and essential self-focus for healing and nurturing.
Taking care of yourself is important first and foremost for your own well-being. But there’s truly no difference between self-care and others-care because caring for ourselves and becoming our best selves ultimately serves others. When you regularly put forth the effort and focus to take care of yourself in whatever way needed, your energy brightens and positively impacts everyone around you.
Ways You Make a Difference When You Prioritize Your Own Self-Care:
- You become a better listener because your subconscious mind isn’t so preoccupied with everything you haven’t dealt with.
- You become more empathetic and encouraging to others, because you have taken the time to do the same for yourself.
- You have more physical and mental energy for your kids and your spouse.
- You have more energy to nurture all meaningful relationships in your life, because you have a full cup from which you can genuinely love others.
- You ultimately have more positive energy with which to interact with others and with the world.
- All of the mental and emotional baggage isn’t gnawing away at you on the back burner, because you’ve addressed it and spoken truth to yourself.
Self-care is, at its very core, the primary way that you can make a difference in the world. So start there!
When you Grow Yourself, You Really Start to Know Yourself
The benefit of self-care and focused healing is that you come to truly know yourself, apart from whatever identity that others or society have prescribed. You may awaken early passions and curiosities that drive a new or renewed goal you begin to pursue – perhaps even vocationally. As you come to better understand these things and hone in on how they may play out in your life, you can start to see where you fit in the world and how you can make a difference with your unique ideas. After all, passion drives perfection and there is nothing quite like laser-focused drive. You can start to imagine very real possibilities – if not now, then later. And that is exciting not just for you, but for everyone!
The World Needs YOU
Lest you ever think you are boring or have nothing worth perfecting, hear this important truth from my fellow alumnus and accomplished actor, director, producer, musician, and Tony Award nominee, Daniel J. Watts:
‘What I preach is that you have to offer something to the market. What do you have in you that the world needs that you’re sitting on because you’re scared, or you don’t think anybody values it? I promise you, there’s something somebody needs that only you can give.’
Daniel J. Watts
Your reach need not be global in order for your impact to be laser sharp. In other words, just because you don’t climb the corporate ladder or become a powerful politician doesn’t mean your efforts, words and actions matter any less.
You have everything you need here and now to work your magic in this life.
Sometimes, by offering our truth to dear friends or those we love, we change the course of their lives in a very powerful way. And they will never forget that. Perhaps you don’t have any extra time or mental energy to devote to a local volunteer program on top of your already busy schedule – whether that involves parenting, working full-time, and/or other commitments. So what? You are only one human; you can’t be expected to physically or mentally attend to PTA meetings, church prayer meetings, corporate luncheons, five thousand family medical appointments, and somehow also meet your own physical, relational, and emotional needs.
Spend Your Energy and Your Love Where Your Passion Is
People often feel like they aren’t good enough because they can’t do more. But what if you didn’t have to do more? What if it’s just about being more (more of your true authentic self), and then seeing where that takes you? After all, you only have a finite amount of time, money and energy.
You have the right to hold your own values, apart from what others believe (and they have the right to hold their own values, too). So if it is most important to you to spend time with your family and that prevents you from having extra time to volunteer somewhere, then you are expending your energy in the most meaningful and effective way. You are serving in the way the world needs you to serve. Because, after all, all of society starts with the family. If you choose to volunteer at a meaningful organization about which you are passionate and spend your evenings doing that instead of visiting with adult family members who are capable of meeting their own physical and emotional needs (whether they want to or not), then you are serving in the way the world needs you to serve because you are living out of passion.
The Takeaway: Heal and Grow Yourself, Know Yourself, and Be Your True Self
When your efforts and energy are focused and born out of true passion, your impact will be outstanding. And you may never see the impact, but you need not doubt its existence. You can know that whatever authentically kind words you offer, whatever truth you speak or act on, these things do matter and they do impact people and society for the better. So get to know yourself and what you want to share. Embracing who you really are is how you can make a difference and be an effective force in the world. Do whatever inner work you need in order to love yourself and feel confident and secure in your true self.
Whoever you are at your core, take that and run with it:
- What are your passions?
- What are your desires?
- How can you hone your natural skills?
- How can you apply your strengths and how can you embrace your weaknesses with grace?
- What lessons have you learned which would benefit others?
- What can you share that might lift up someone else, someone who, unbeknownst to you, experiences similar struggles?
Share what you know in a purposeful way, even if it feels frivolous. Maybe something you love feels frivolous to you, but it could be just the lifeline to motivate somebody else! When you can rise and shine, the world benefits. Be your true self and see where it takes you. You aren’t for everyone, and neither is everyone for you. That is why we are a diverse human race. You have a true tribe waiting for you. Reaching them is how you can make a difference that’s laser sharp. It starts here, and it starts now. Show us what you got!