When we give of our time and talent through volunteer work, or our resources through donations, we are making a difference in our communities in a very important way. How many people would starve on the streets of the United States if there were no food banks?
How much more would the people of New Orleans and other disaster areas suffer without the donations and help of private individuals? Some kids have a backpack, new jeans and school materials only because of Back-To-School collections in churches. New England and other areas have been graced for many years by our volunteer fire departments. The list could go on for pages. We are a generous nation, both at home and abroad.
There is, however, something else we can do that does not take any time or any money. That might sound like an oddball statement in a world consumed with busyness and nervous about high costs. What value could possibly exist without the commitment of time and money? We all know the buzz words. “You get what you pay for.’ “No pain, no gain.” “There’s only so much you can do.” “I’m only one person, and I have a family and obligations.” “You want me to do what?”
Perhaps we could ask ourselves if we are engaged in a dance of survival or in a dance of creativity. People caught in survival mentality see all the ways they can lose. People engaged in creative mentality continually search for better options. Sometimes those better options can be stunningly simple.
This “something else we can do” is about a shift in how we see the world and our own place in it. It is not about finding a way to do more or give more. This idea simply requires a specific focus of our attention. Quantum Physics has rocked the scientific worldview by proving that the smallest particles of matter change behavior in the presence of human attention. That means your attention counts whether you know it or not, and your attention can count for a lot when you choose to use it consciously for positive change. If you have ever walked into a room full of people and been able to sense either a very positive or negative feeling, what follows will make perfect sense to you. Let me set the scene.
The world is not in a very happy state right now. Volatile might be an apt word to use. Fear, distrust and hatred, leading to hunger, suffering and death are in every newscast. But fear, distrust and hatred are only possible when people agree on them. What if some of us started changing our agreements? That begins with changing our own thoughts.
For instance, I go into a store to shop several times a week, usually rushed and distracted. You know what that looks like. There are a lot of us rushing around, looking distracted and bumping into each other. Suppose I, or you, take a deep breath on the way in and choose to focus my/our attention on looking for something positive to comment on while shopping. Or we could deliberately make eye contact as often as possible and offer a smile. What might people sense from us when our focus is consciously directed toward being a kind and smiling presence?
And then, suppose I or you convince a friend or two to try the same thing, and they liked it and started telling more friends, and then………. How long might it take for this idea to move around the world?
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” Margaret Mead, 1901-1978
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