“Be the change that you wish to see in the world”
That statement is a paraphrase of Mahatma Gandhi’s original statement. What did he actually say?
We but mirror the world. All the tendencies present in the outer world are to be found in the world of our body. If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change. As a man changes his own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him. This is the divine mystery supreme. A wonderful thing it is and the source of our happiness. We need not wait to see what others do.
People over state the following…nothing will ever change…change is too hard…this world will never change…I don’t see anything changing in the next 100 years.
If we apply what Gandhi said and if change begins with us what are we really saying? I will never change…It is too hard for me to change…I will never change…I don’t see myself changing in the next 100 years.
Gandhi suggests that personal and social transformation work hand and hand, so we cannot change self without changing the world. Our biggest struggle is taking the steps to change ourselves. How can we change the world by changing ourselves? We can start with simple things like:
- Quit sharing stories that put a certain race in a negative light. Share stories that are positive and make those the ones that go viral
- Help change reading and math scores by tutoring at least one student to get them above a 3rd grade level
- Go for an hour walk 2 days a week and increase your activities over time
- Change your diet and replace one unhealthy item with one healthy item daily. Increase to more over time
- Reduce your time on social network and in front of a TV and exchange it for a book, museum, or a play
- Take a walk in the park
- Do something for a person that could never repay you
- At the end of your day save your change in a jar
These are examples of minor changes, but what if we apply them to education and our youth. Spend some time with some youth.  Read to them. Help them with homework. Take them to a play. Show them positive role models. Be a positive role model. It takes a village to raise a child, but the village has to change. The hardest struggle a person will face is changing themselves, but if you change yourself you will ultimately change the world.
