You Do Make A Difference, In More Ways Than You Can Possibly Imagine.
You’ve made it through the work week to Thursday, so it’s time for the motivational article of the week:
If you have ever wondered if you make a difference, then think about this quote. Really think about it.
“I have come to the frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element. It is my personal approach that creates the climate. It is my daily mood that makes the weather. I possess tremendous power to make life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration. I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal. In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis is escalated or de-escalated, and a person is humanized or de-humanized. If we treat people as they are, we make them worse. If we treat people as they ought to be, we help them become what they are capable of becoming.”
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Sounds like Goethe might have realized that his thoughts shaped his reality. It’s true, you are whoever you want and whoever you think yourself to be. You are the decisive element. What goes on inside of you changes the entire world you see. You touch the lives of everyone you perceive, not just those you interact with.
If you treat someone as they are, you make them more of what they are. Unless of course you see the power of God or the power of the universe (whatever term you wish to use) inside of them. If you treat them like a grand spiritual being, then they will be lifted up, but so will you. Because how you treat others is how you are treating yourself.
It takes two people who would rather be right than happy to have an argument. I have decided for myself, and I hope you will too, dear reader, that is it more important to be happy than it is to be right. My happiness is paramount, because it is creating my reality. My inner bliss is the fuel for a wonderful day. I certainly wont let my ego steal that from me because my ego wants to prove it knows more or is better than another persons ego.
If someone is rude to me, I am polite to them in return, because I choose to treat others as I think I should be treated. If I am rude back because I think they should have been nice to me, then I have missed the boat completely. If someone is mean spirited, I am extra nice to them, or I plant a seed by introducing them to The Secret
Once someone realizes that their own thoughts create their reality, they start to monitor their thoughts and the way they treat others. It’s truly an amazing tool to use on someone you encounter daily. If they accept your one time gift of knowledge, they will return the favor to you every time you interact with them.
In conclusion, you make a difference in the world. You are the world. How you think, feel and treat others creates your world.
Hey, Johhny, mate, you sort of reinvented Buddhism! (It isn’t a criticism – may all sentient beings reinvent it and thus liberate themselves from suffering!) I mean my teacher, Lama Ole Nydahl puts it this ” ‘Dynamic truth’ means praising people for good qualities they don’t actually have right now – but because of the the praise, they will develop.'”
Shenpen,
Thank you for the kind words. I take the comparison as a strong compliment. I have often thought of researching Buddhism, because I have been told my beliefs are inline with their teachings more than once.
I guess I am on my own path, but the discovery of truth can come in many different forms.
I love the idea of “Dynamic Truth”. Different terms with the same universal message of truth.
I’m enjoying the site and this article. I hate to be “that guy”, but the title should read:
You Do Make A Difference, In More Ways THAN (not Then) You Can Possibly Imagine.
Just trying to help your site become what it is capable of becoming.
Brownhound,
I am glad you are enjoying the site.
You are correct, about the title. I updated it. Thanks for letting me know.
I am new to this way of thinking. I never thought about my thoughts before.