The weather outside is frightful, and so is the news day after day… What to do to keep sane and hopeful, especially on the day this country celebrates the heritage of Martin Luther King, Jr.?
There is a story told about C. G. Jung. Someone, some years ago, distressed about the deplorable state of the world at that time, asked him what one person could do to have a positive impact on the world. He answered, “work on yourself.” I don’t know if this answer satisfied the concerned questioner or not. It does not, at first blush, seem to be much of an answer for curing the world’s ills.
So let’s unpack it. Work on yourself. If you focus on an honest inventory of yourself and the ways that you want to become more a mature, better person, and to pursue meaningful, fulfilling tasks, two changes occur. Your attention is not on the negative aspects of the world around you, but on your own improvement. Also, although an inventory can be sobering, the choice and work to mature and improve becomes in and of itself, a positive task. So, initially you could experience a change of focus and a change of mood.
Next, let’s fast forward and assume that you have achieved some measure of positive change in your life and your sense of self. It may seem subtle, but not only are you doing things differently, you are engaged in different enterprises and you are interacting with others differently. Your impact and effect on others will be more positive.
What new doors will open because of these changes? What new relationships will develop? There’s no way of predicting what these could be. Let’s suppose that you continue on this path. Life will become exponentially different. And not just for you, but also for all the people and communities you interact with.
Does this change the world? There is no question that it changes a small part of it. But one cannot know how tiny changes affect the whole. I remind you of the butterfly effect. And if enough of us work on ourselves to become more mature and responsible, who is to say where the edge of the impacts will be.
Margaret Mead’s quote comes to mind, “never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world, indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” And that brings me back to Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. He is an example of Margaret Mead’s observation and someone who spent time to become a most “mature” human being. Here is a list of possible acts to perform in honor of MLK Day that I found on CNN compiles by Bethany Hines (with my edits and ideas).
- Donate time
- Start a conversation (with someone you haven’t talked with before)
- Use your words (for encouragement or support)
- Donate talent
- Build homes
- Offer help
- Educate others
- Donate treasure
- Give money
- Be kind