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Change the World: One World-Sized Idea

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Are We Afraid We Would Make a Difference?

changetheworld8

A lucky part of being who and where I am is that I get have conversations about people’s passions and dreams for the future. I hear their heads describing their skills and talents. I hear their hearts explaining how they long to follow their calling.

The wish is always there, often unspoken — sometimes from fear of it, sometimes from a lack of ownership.

Yesterday, I had a conversation with a young man. He had some idea of his future, but not yet a whole one. He asked my experience. I said is that, if he were going to make one mistake, I suspected that he would not think big enough.

“Not think big enough,” he pondered that phrase.

“Yes, I don’t think I’ve heard anyone think too big for years, maybe forever.”
He asked for more. I elaborated in this way.

We make our ideas smaller by thinking we weren’t meant to do something. Other folks were meant to change things. We were meant to live with them. Why do we argue for that? Isn’t the opposite an equally valid argument?

Why do we shy away from what we long to be doing?

Are we afraid that we actually could make a difference?

Nelson Mandela knows.

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.

We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God.

Your playing small doesn’t serve the world. There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We are born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.

It’s not just in some of us, it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

Ghandhi
Mother Teresa
Martin Luther King

They were each one person with a refusal to follow their fear.

Your playing small doesn’t serve the world.

One person can change the world with belief in a world-sized idea.

This is not talk. I truly do . . . plan . . .. to . . . Change the World.

With capital letters.

Why not me? Why not you? Why not all of us?

We can change the world — just like that.

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Mandela’s speech was written by Marianne Williamson.

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Comments

  4. Liz,

    I can never get enough of this message, and I am guessing that it’s one of life’s harder lessons to learn. I’m still struggling with it, that’s for sure! 😉

    Mike

    Reply

  5. Thanks for the alert Liz.

    I’m on it but, keep getting distracted. Now I know to return to my quest…writing and speaking for a better world through a more connected family of humanity — writing everyday.

    John

    Reply

  6. Hi Armen,
    The responsibility of a great idea can be a huge undertaking . . . what if I change the world for good and people expect me to be more than I am?

    Hi Mike,
    Give up the struggle. Surrender and try an idea that’s just a little bit bigger this time. 🙂

    Hey John,
    A quest is the perfect word for a commitment to change the world. Go for it. I’m with you!

    Reply

  7. Liz,

    Roger that; it’s the figuring out what “little” is that challenges me, but I think I’ve got it figured out.

    Mike

    Reply

  13. Liz

    What a great post. There really isn’t much to say right now about it, but this is something I will be digesting for awhile and maybe blog about it tonight! 🙂

    Billy

    Reply

  15. Hi Liz

    Wow, ‘hear’ my mentor again in your post (strange not, he keeps popping up here ;-))
    His concept: as small business don’t think small – that’s just a label economy puts on you – think big. Leave your ‘label’ and become big.

    Karin H. (Keep It Simple Sweetheart, specially in business)

    Reply

  16. Hi Karin!
    I’ve just gotten off the phone with a friend. We were having this conversation — that everyone we know has been thinking too small. Big thoughts are how we grow. 🙂

    Reply

  17. Hi Liz

    That’s exactly what Richard C means. Thinking big hasn’t anything to do with being arrogant; that’s showing off, not thinking big. Showing off also doesn’t have room to grow, thinking big has (plenty!).

    Karin H.

    Reply

  22. I agree with you wholeheartedly enough to do something about it.

    Each of us have our own life purpose and it’s time each one of us find a way to use our life to impact the lives of those we are meant to impact.

    It’s all about wrapping your SweetSpot – THAT thing you are made to do into a career or business that allows you to make your impact

    Reply

  23. Hi Lartarsha!
    “Wrapping up your SweetSpot.” Gosh, how I like that. It sounds so like what Steve Farber calls “finding your frequency.” I know that when I found the one thing that encompassed all of my other values the world made more sense and so did I.

    We were made to shine. 🙂

    Reply

  24. Liz – this is a brilliant post. It could truly turn round someone’s way of thinking, once they realise they’re actually being selfish by not thinking big enough.

    Reply

  27. Just found you Liz. It’s a beautiful message and I have done exercises where I write down what I would do if I could accomplish anything in the world with no constraints. My dream is to be a writer, sounds cliche I know.
    But seeing my dreams is like seeing a picturesque scene on an exotic island; tantalizing at first, but then sad when I realize I don’t have the means to get there.

    I’m not cynical or pessimistic, just wish I believed in myself as much as I believe in others.

    Reply

  28. This piece reverberates what I have been feeling for a while now. Its sad how much we believe in other people’s abilities to change the world — even in the tiniest manner and doubt our own.
    There are so many things that I would like to do but I’m always inundated in self-doubt about how good I would be at it.

    Reply

    • Hi Laura!
      I remember that post and when I wrote as if it were 5 minutes ago. It always moves me to read it. I’m delighted it had a similar effect on you too!

      Reply

  31. Wonderful people commented here their thoughts and feelings. I am somewhere in between of all their comments.
    Would like to do a lot, I am sure I can do at least something of it and are too busy with everyday routine to think more about it and to push myself towards this goal. Thanks for your energy and action. Will follow you and others.

    Reply

    • Hello Aviva!
      Your one idea can change one person … that could be what you’re meant to do. I believe that most important part of the idea is that we let ourselves shine through it.

      Reply

  34. The concept is powerful and timely. All of us have great things inside of us – or should I say – the potential for great things.

    This should be required reading for our youth – and be close at hand for those of us not so young.

    Inspire! Create! Share! Smile!

    Thank you Liz – your posts bring me closer to all four!

    Gerry

    Reply

    • Wow! Gerry,
      Thank you for the great smile you put on my face. I believe we all have a reason that has to do with saving ourselves and then saving the world. And like you, I see a limitless potential. 🙂

      Reply

  35. Liz, aloha. That speech of Mandela’s has always resonated with me.

    Aside from the reasons you mention above, I think the reason that sometimes people don’t expect or do more is because they think they have to know what “the end” will look like.

    Even if a person has a goal of feeding the hungry or helping people become more eco-friendly, they cannot know who and what will be affected along the way that may make even more of a difference than the original goal.

    Take action, water and nourish the goal as it grows into its full magnificence–even if the end result is not as initially envisioned.

    Thanks so much for this message.

    Best wishes for a terrific weekend. Aloha. Janet

    Reply

    • Hi Janet,
      You make such a strong point. Movie after movie has told us stories of well-meaning folks who screwed up the world, a life, or a country. How could we not have a little worry that have a great big idea might our “movie” like that? I’ve noticed too that people seem to think that it’s all or nothing — without realizing that we all change the world just by being here.

      Reply

  37. When you say “yes” to yourself, that’s when you open yourself up to what you can really accomplish. Thanks for the reminder, Liz!

    Reply

  39. Too many people hold back professionally and home life due to risks and possible critism IMHO.
    Thinking big without being reckless ought to be appreciated and supported by others, to stem new creativity, or just moving onto a different road in your own life

    Reply

  40. Easier to think “not big enough” and attain a goal. The problem – that goal should have been a stop on the path to your real goal if you aimed for the stars.

    Reply

  41. Great post, Liz. Yes, we can change the world. The challenge for many is that they are running so fast, so quickly all the time, they never stop to really have a look and see the world. Once they do and for lack of a better term, stop and smell the roses, they can see what they have, how beautiful it is and take the time to ponder, what one little thing they can do, what they can contribute. And it’s those baby steps that will ultimately change the world. (e)GADGET1

    Reply

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