“Be the Change that you wish to see in the World”
By Shiva
@Shiva49 (26202)
Singapore
December 28, 2017 11:20pm CST
The above quote attributed to Mahatma Gandhi has a profound impact on me whenever I despair at the state of the affairs of the world. We may be just drops in the ocean but we are still part of it. I believe everyone can influence others – the positive impact touches the heart while the negative evokes disgust and despair.
We know our world is in a mess but we tend to accept it as a fait accompli – we cannot do much about it. But is that so? When we know injustice is rampant can we not rise in unison especially like now when an idea spreads across the world instantaneously? Why feel defeated?
Every day we accept the present state of affairs is one day gone by postponing what needs to be done eventually. Our faiths implore us to lead virtuous lives but then why does it not percolate everywhere when 99% benefits by taking a positive path towards coexistence?
My conclusion is we sow seeds that we reap and when greed decides our policies then we cannot complain. When we keep arms factories running full steam with countries competing for the most lucrative of markets, with hard sell tactics, we get overrun by weapons and destruction follows.
If we want to see a change from the present scenario, we have to start with each of us as Gandhi said so poignantly. Are we ready to start the process of change? It is a good time to think ahead as we are in the cusp of a New Year.
Image: Change from Wikimedia Images
10 people like this
11 responses
@allknowing (130064)
• India
31 Dec 17
Just a small good deed every day by every one will overnight transform this world that we would like to live in.
4 people like this
@TiarasOceanView (70035)
• United States
29 Dec 17
If it is at all possible, yes, we must first start with ourselves. It is a really wise saying by Ghandi there.
4 people like this
@TiarasOceanView (70035)
• United States
29 Dec 17
@Shiva49 And that is so true Siva. Amen
3 people like this
@FayeHazel (40248)
• United States
29 Dec 17
It's a great quote, however difficult to enact.... thank you for the inspiration for the New Year
4 people like this
@khagendra1994 (1226)
• Kathmandu, Nepal
29 Dec 17
Yes iam agreed with you,once great person said if you want to change world start with yourself.
4 people like this
@lookatdesktop (27129)
• Dallas, Texas
19 Oct 18
So very true. You are a voice of reason for each day to move forward with hope for a better future.
1 person likes this
@lookatdesktop (27129)
• Dallas, Texas
20 Oct 18
@Shiva49 , Thanks for the return comment to my comment. It's always good to hear from you.
1 person likes this
@Shiva49 (26202)
• Singapore
20 Oct 18
Thank you, I am glad your comment led me back to one of my older posts.
It is not like "Everybody Talks About the Weather, But Nobody Does Anything About It."
We can do a lot but we get stymied by a minority who calls the shots. Then again, our actions or inactions are influencing the weather for the worse - siva
1 person likes this
@innertalks (21026)
• Australia
29 Dec 17
What has change got to do with truth, which never changes, or does it?
Change reaches out into us from love, which energises truth in us, not to change truth, but to change ourselves.
Only truth can change us; nothing else can.
Love is the agent of truth, and as much as we love, we change into an instrument of both God's love, and his truth in this world, and so the world changes around, and with us, then too.
Only love and truth can change things for the better.
The engine of change in us must be powered by love, even as we keep on the tracks of truth!
Picture Credit:
This picture has been freely sourced from the free media site Pixabay.com
@innertalks (21026)
• Australia
30 Dec 17
@Shiva49
Yes, change is needed. You have described our current position very well there, siva.
The possibilities are endless, but the endlessness resides not in us(i.e.in our own selves), but in our connection to each other.
As and when we realise and own this truth, we will really care for each other and not try to tear each other apart anymore.
2 people like this
@Shiva49 (26202)
• Singapore
30 Dec 17
@innertalks Yes Steve, a higher consciousness is building up within us but still the remnants of those that tear us apart are alive and kicking.
Let us thrive in the variety within humanity and not take it as "us" and "them". If the latter view persists, it will be getting even forever - siva
2 people like this
@Shiva49 (26202)
• Singapore
29 Dec 17
We have strayed from the path of truth and love and find it tough to regain our moorings lost as we are in pursuits that only invite misery. Looks like we paint each other as enemies to cover up our own lack of self esteem and uprightness.
We have to finetone the inner GPS, wake up the dormant spark of love, to fire up our engine and be on our way after the hiccups that have pinned us down. Change is needed now for our survival as we have opened the Pandora's box and a can worms of weapons all over the blessed planet. We find ourselves in a Tower of Babel not able to understand and trust the motives of another and get led to each other's throats.
We need to get our acts together and Martin Luther King's words drive home the point "We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools." - siva
2 people like this
