I love the quote above. It’s empowering, and it alludes to the reality that everything must start small. Any movement, any project, any change — it starts with a page of notes, a conversation, maybe a midnight gathering of people dizzy with ideas. No matter how big it gets, how fast it grows, every revolution must start somewhere.
But let’s talk about one particular phrase: CHANGE THE WORLD.
What does it take to “change the world”? If we are indeed all interconnected in a deliciously complex web of cause and effect, action and reaction, does not every step we take change the world somehow? If we all pull our weight in our tiny corners of the universe, where is the line between changing the world and changing ourselves?
There is no line, and it cannot be black and white. I believe changing the world is a spectrum. It is a spectrum in which certain actions reverberate more strongly than others, and certain movements gain more traction than others. But the world is perpetually shifting and changing, which means every single action plays some part in defining those shifts.
Let’s talk about how these shifts work, and how far the spectrum stretches. How do you see the spectrum? What does “changing the world” mean to you?
I’d like to add that this is yet another thought-provoking postcard courtesy of my mom. She sent this card along with a stack of New Yorker magazines, which made for a package that was pretty much as stimulating as it gets!
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Ah, there are so many ways to change the world – there are small things we can do as individuals, and larger things we can do as groups. I am only disheartened by all the people who don’t believe it’s possible to change the world (so they don’t even bother trying). Every little bit counts!
Melissa Donovan´s last blog post..Homophones: Weather and Whether
Zoe, I’ve always loved that quote, too. The idea of “changing the world” generally seems so overwhelming to me. If I think about it as a ripple effect, though, or a chain reaction–something relatively small that I do activates someone else who does something, inspiring others into action–it seems so much more manageable and powerful.
One example is how we raise our children. My nine year old has decided, definitively, that she wants to join the Peace Corps after college. Her sense of compassion is almost feverish within her. I often doubt that I’m being the best mom I could be, but then I realize that raising my daughters, even if I don’t always parent exactly right, is surely one way to change the world (three ways, actually).
Kristin T. (@kt_writes)´s last blog post..The sort of people who set free my tears
I believe we can change the world in many ways, but the world will always have its share of evil and utopia is just a fantasy, albeit a nice one. I think we can do things as individuals and volunteer in groups for big projects, as long as it’s not political. Some people believe politics is the way to change the world, but they are naive in my opinion. Throughout the entire history of humans, every paradigm shift has been reversed as half the people will always oppose it (whatever it is), though it would be nice if the good ones were permanent. I’m not being cynical, just realistic. I say don’t wait for government to change things, get out and change it yourself!
One thing I personally do is help young people with drug problems, because I’ve been there on the bottom of the bottom, homeless, hungry and without hope. But I chose to help myself, and I changed my own life. It was my decision and that decision shaped my entire philosophical, political, and spiritual outlook. When I realized I was the only person that could change me, I became a different person and haven’t looked back. So now, I donate my time to different groups, including helping young people facing drug charges at a state court program, and speak a few times per month and occasionally, someone listens. It’s not much and I don’t get paid, but with so few people out there teaching about this subject in a way they can actually relate to, it’s so difficult. There is something each and every person can do, and I stress do, not talking about doing. If every person just did one thing, just one, it would make a big difference. To answer your question: changing the world to me means taking action
Bobby Revell´s last blog post..Political Positivity
The more I dwell with the cycles of nature it becomes clearer and clearer to me that nature does not need us to fix her…(an unstated inflation many are falling into in the global warming advocacy) but instead to “fix” ourselves, as the philosopher Max Scheler put it “through a transformation of man himself, of the nature of his internal constitution in body, mind, and spirit.” If we tend to our greed, dishonesty, selfishness and cruelty, if we really own it, I believe the planet will have no trouble regulating itself (Note: I’m not saying the problems are not real).
Great question, Zoë! And it has me thinking towards a longer blog post, but here are two ideas:
Don’t get discouraged: In today’s information environment, our sphere of awareness is vastly larger than our sphere of possible action. That’s a situation that sets us all up for disillusionment and despair. We can’t individually fix every tragedy we know about. The challenge is to stay connected at the global level, to both the good and the bad, while maintaining our momentum towards change on a smaller, achievable scale.
Everyone has a role to play: All across the spectrum, from radical marching in the street, to contemplative researcher assembling the data to make the arguments that get people into the street, and everyone in between. Find your role, excel in it, and don’t waste time and energy fretting that you can’t do everything. Do what you do well, and contribute to a larger movement.
PS @Bobby: What a great example of how making changes in your own life can put you in a position to make broader change. Thank you for all the work you’re doing on such an critical problem.
Heros. Love them. Since about 1998, one of mine has been Mr. Rogers. That guy made things happen. He had a long term vision that he was able to transform (and put into action) to daily activities.
I wonder if there is a key there somewhere – help others seize their purpose (to see what it is) then help others (or heck even one’s self) to implement the Day to Day Actions.
Kind of a Cross of Faith, Vision, and Getting Things Done (ref: David Allen).
Ms. Zoe, your blog is changing the world – just providing some (valid) validation for you. (Oh, your mom is also changing the world as those postcards may well be an initial catalyst to something far, far greater).
Dave Thurston´s last blog post..JstATht – The Flavor of Simmered Words
@ Melissa – Ah yes, the “Oh, I can’t make much of a difference anyway so I might as well not do anything” reasoning. Toxic.
@ Kristin – I’m amazed sometimes when I stop to think of subtle chain reactions, like you describe. In the end, it probably matters most that our hearts are fully inside whatever we are doing…
@ Bobby – Wow, I loved reading your story, your perspective. *Doing* truly is key — even talking (e.g., you talking to a kid facing drug charges) can be a powerful form of doing. I think your example really shows that, like I said to Kristin, it matters most that we’re fully engaged in whatever we choose to do. Thanks
@ Richard – What a simple, beautiful way to express it. I wholeheartedly agree.
@ Matt – Really good points you made — I can’t wait to read the upcoming blog post
. I hadn’t really thought about it in that light, but it’s so very true that the information overload can distort our view of what should be done individually. I love the idea that we all play different roles, because it’s something I’ve noticed when contemplating the people that surround me.
@ Dave – Mr. Rogers… awesome! Yes, I think empowering people is SO important. It’s ultimately most sustainable to teach people, to empower them to solve problems themselves — not to go in and say “Hey, I know what you need — let me do that for you.” Love the vision you’ve painted.
And yes, my mom’s postcards are proving to be excellent catalysts!
I was going to write something profound about the ripple effect, but Kristin beat me to it! But I do think there’s something to defining “the world” when you ask about changing the world. It can be, as other comments pointed out, overwhelming to try to think about changing the world in a big way.
But maybe changing the world doesn’t mean the world as the globe, with all the continents and all those people. Maybe it just means you’ve changed someone’s world. I think of people I’ve met throughout my life and I can honestly say some of them have changed my own personal little world. And I’d like to think I’ve had the same effect for others. Maybe it’s about changing someone’s definition of the world, instead of trying to take on the whole big thing.
I wouldn’t like to change the world.
I would like more people to grow flowers. I would like more people to have confidence enough to smile. I would like hungry people to be able to eat more regularly. I would like everybody to have shelter. I would love kids to not worry about homework until middle school. I would like people and institutions, whether private or public, to recognise the inherent dignity in each human being, and the sacred fragility of the environment in which they live.
I would like our focus to shift away from the self, towards us, towards humanity and creativity. I want the leading lights of the world to be given greater attention, louder voices, and in some cases, bigger sticks.
Jé Maverick´s last blog post..The Things You Couldn’t Take – Confessional Poem
I’m also a big believer in the ripple effect; I think sometimes the most radical changes are the most subtle. They aren’t necessarily glamorous, either (as other commenters have attested). Today I was over at hyperlocavore watching part of a video on Transition Towns. Hopkins, the movement founder, says that we can make local changes that have a big impact on the way things are done. He also points out that a lot of times we don’t ask the right questions, because we are working on assumptions that are just wrong. A good thing for us all to remember to recalibrate occasionally, and check the foundations we’re standing on.
@ Meredith – “The world” is so abstract, so it definitely does help to think how we’re defining it! It is pretty amazing to think how much a certain person has transformed your own world. I’m a big believer in empowering others, especially because it’s a powerful way to create that ripple effect you and Kristin brought up
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@ Jé – Beautiful images … sounds like big changes to me
@ Sunday – Yes, recalibration is a great way to put it! If we don’t question our assumptions, it’s doubtful that we’ll work toward meaningful change…
I also want to point you all to Matt’s response post, “The World is Malleable: 15 Tactics for Shaping It”:
http://www.elsewisemedia.com/2009/05/the-world-is-malleable-15-tactics-for-shaping-it/
In my former life as a Psychology teacher, the ability for the minority to change the opinions of the majority was one of my favourite topics. It was one of those lessons where I could really light the fire in my teenage students, ones who had already become jaded in our harsh world. They could see that what I was teaching them was the way to change the world.
A rather clever chap called Moscovici proposed that there are four things that a minority viewpoint has to have in order to have the greatest chance of changing the opinion of the majority (i.e. changing the world!). They are: consistency, flexibility, commitment and relevance. There’s a ton of stuff I could talk about relating to those, but I don’t want to hijack your comments with an impromptu psychology lesson!
What I would like to add though is that an understanding of these factors can help those in the minority to influence those in the majority enough to shift their opinions. It starts with private agreement, then there’s enough of a groundswell to emerge as a social force – all very exciting. Oops, sorry, I was getting carried away again there, I’ll get my coat ;o)
Emma Newman´s last blog post..Is there a book big enough for me to hide behind?
@ Emma – Well, I’m completely intrigued! I’d love to get a lesson like the one you’ve described above … sounds fascinating. Any chance you’ll blog about this?
I’ve asked Emma for something more in depth. Perhaps I could persuade her to post it here, or the link to something of more length elsewhere!
Jé Maverick´s last blog post..The Things You Couldn’t Take – Confessional Poem
@ Jé – Ooh, now she’s got us all in suspense! Keep me posted
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I will do. I’m as intrigued as you are!
Jé Maverick´s last blog post..The Things You Couldn’t Take – Confessional Poem
Well, I wrote a post for you at last (I’m hoping the comment luv thingy will show it). This is the first time I’ve written about psychology since being a teacher, and I have to say, I really enjoyed writing it. So thank you for being curious – you inspired me to write about another passion of mine
) (I just hope you enjoy it!)
Emma Newman´s last blog post..How to change the world in five not very easy steps
Thank you so much Emma — you’ve started another stimulating conversation on your post
. Everyone click the link above to read Emma’s post!