9 traps that stop people from making a difference

9 traps that stop people from making a difference

TRAP #1: "That's just the way the world is"

If you look back through history you'll discover that the world has always been faced with seemingly insurmountable challenges: slavery, hunger, warfare, intolerance. It's easy to feel like "the world has troubles � that's just the way the world is, so why bother trying to change it?" But can you imagine how the world would be different if all people throughout history would have resigned themselves to just accepting the "troubles" of their time? Can you imagine the cynics of the day saying that:

* "America will always be an British colony." 
* "Slavery will always exist." 
* "Women will never be allowed to vote." 
* "Whites and Blacks will never share the same classrooms." 
* "People in wheelchairs will never have access to public buildings." 
* "Free public schooling won't work because the poor don't want to be educated."

�so there's no point trying to change anything.

For every social problem that has existed there have been people dedicated to solving it and creating positive social change. We may be born into a world with immense challenges, but we have the opportunity to create and recreate the world each and every day. Every situation that has been created by humans, can be changed by humans. A better world is always a possibility. While current problems may seem overwhelming, surrendering hope only ensures that nothing will change. Embracing your vision for a better world is all the hope you will ever need.

Once you let yourself envision a better world you can then consider where you fit into this whole picture. Our culture teaches us that we are each completely responsible for our own well being - that we are independent creatures on this planet that should make their own way in life without depending on others. This particular view of the world neglects the fact that we all rely on each other for our daily existence. We eat food that is grown from soil nurtured by microscopic organisms. We drink water that was vapor from the oceans. We breath oxygen respired by the trees. We wear clothing made by people across the planet that we will never meet. We rely on our friends and family for support. We create a sense of belonging and meaning within our communities. Our personal well being is inextricably linked to the well being of our families, our friends, our communities, and our planet - and the well being of others is shaped by our own well being as well.

Unfortunately many of us have learned to ignore these connections and live as if each of us are our own island. When you truly understand the interconnected nature of the world, you realize that you are both very powerful and yet very small--you influence everything around you yet there is so much more to life than just you. Recognizing these fundamental connections opens up the possibility of a new sense of awareness. When we validate these clear connections that bind us all together, we gain some awareness of how each of our own actions affect the people and the planet all around us.

TRAP #2: "It's not my responsibility"

You may be saying, "I didn't cause the world's problems so why should I be responsible for fixing them?" That may seem true on the surface until you realize that the problems that our world faces are created by the daily actions of millions and millions of people. The CEO of a company may be the person who should be held most responsible for the pollution created by her/his company. But don't the shareholders of the company bear some responsibility, and the people who purchase its products, and the local television station that covers car crashes and celebrity weddings instead of investigating local water quality?

All of us hold some measure of responsibility for the challenges that our society faces. Even if it's only because we have not taken the time to become informed about our world and about the well being of others. We don't like to take responsibility for other people's messes, and we like to think that our own messes are very small. But our impacts on the world are much larger than we think. For example, try to answer the following questions:

* Whose car causes smog? 
* Whose use of energy causes global warming and climate change? 
* Whose apathy leads to the lowest voter turnout in history? 
* Whose frown makes people think your city is not a friendly place? 
* Whose purchase keeps an unethical company in business? 
* Whose lack of support for a community group causes it to close its doors?

The answer to these questions is "all of us together". It's not one single person but everyone. You can't pinpoint which car causes a traffic jam because each car causes it. The responsibility lies with the group as a whole and with each individual.

How you spend and invest your money, the career you choose, the car you drive, your participation or nonparticipation in our democracy, and countless other decisions all impact our planet and its people. Each of us needs to take responsibility for our part in the creation of our world's problems and in the creation of a better world. Now trying to take personal responsibility for all of the world's problems will quickly overwhelm you, so just take on the challenge of doing your part. This book offers many concrete suggestions on how you can take responsibility for your part by creating forward-looking solutions to today's problems.

TRAP #3: "One person can't make a difference"

Even if you are willing to take responsibility and do your part to make the world a better place, you may be thinking, "But I'm only one person on a planet of 6 billion people with so many problems. I can't possibly make a difference!" Problems like racism, hunger and inequality seem so big that it's easy to feel small and powerless. How much of a difference can you actually make anyway? In truth, you can make one person's difference--no more, no less. On a daily basis you not only have the power to perpetuate the world's problems, but you have the opportunity to stand up for the creation of a world based on your own deeply held values.

* Your money invested in the right bank could help create more wealth for poor communities. 
* Your letter can be the one that changes the behavior of an entire corporation. 
* Your vote can elect government officials that really make a difference. 
* Your timely call to a friend can change their outlook for the day. 
* Your donation can help a social change organization meet its lofty goals. 
* Your purchase can allow a locally owned business to thrive in your community. 
* Your participation can transform a small group of people into the beginnings of a social 
movement.

Not only do each of your actions have a direct impact on the world but your every choice you make sends a message to those around you. Your choice to: use your bicycle instead of your car, set up recycling bins at work, or volunteer for an organization you care about, potentially inspires another person to do their part to create a better world. We then create momentum for each other and at the same time support each other to live in a manner that creates possibilities for a better future. The way you live your life is a constant message about who you are and what the world can be. Don't ever let anyone convince you that you have no power � together we have the power to change the world.

Remember that all significant changes in the world start slowly, at a single time and place, with a single action. One man, one woman, one child stands up and commits to creating a better world. This courage inspires others who begin to stand up themselves. You can be that person.

Deciding you're ready to be part of the solution is an exciting and powerful feeling. Once you become aware of how your actions affect others and accept responsibility for your role in creating a better world, your values will come to the forefront of your life. In what ways do you want to change the world? What do you value most in life? What would the world be like if everyone was taking responsibility for how their life creates and shapes the world?

TRAP #4: "Building a better world seems totally overwhelming"

Wanting the world to be a better place is one thing, but being willing to personally take on bringing that world into being is another. In the process of more fully integrating your values about the world with your actions, you are bound to become frustrated. The first thing that you may notice is that we all live in contradiction with many of our values.

* You wish people were friendlier, but you realize that you are often too busy to smile and say hello to the cashier at the place where you go everyday for lunch.
* You detest the thought of children slaving away in a sweatshop, yet you find out that the new pair of shoes you just bought (at a bargain price) were made by workers paid only a fraction of their living expenses. Damn!

This realization may leave you feeling frustrated, guilty or even hypocritical. This kind of disturbing insight is inevitable for anyone committed to building a better world. It's important to remember that we don't have to be perfect people, have perfect knowledge, wait until the perfect time or know the perfect action to take before we begin making the world better. These are all just ways that we keep ourselves from making a difference. Once you start, you'll gain better knowledge, better timing, better actions and ultimately become a better person for it.

Keep in mind that the goal is a better world and not a perfect world. It is not an all or nothing commitment. That's why it's called The Better World Handbook not The Perfect World Handbook. You take those actions that are sustainable for your unique life. You are seeking to better the world and better yourself in the process. Learn to live with your imperfections, embrace them � they are what make us human. And consider this. If you were somehow able to manage to be perfect, who would be able to live up to your standards? Who would want to join you in making a difference? Who be able to do what you do? No one.

The world is extremely complex and the impacts of our daily actions are truly global. We unknowingly contribute to the oppression of others and the degradation of the environment on a daily basis. But with each conscious choice you make to create a better world, you take responsibility for your existence. You increasingly become the director of your life as you more fully integrate your values with your actions. In essence, you are taking responsibility for the interdependent nature of life by realizing that every action you take shapes the world around you. You are choosing to live in a way that creates a stronger and healthier society and planet with your every action. Now is the time to commit to transforming your good intentions into action.

TRAP #5: "I don't have the time or the energy"

The last thing most of us want is to add even more responsibilities to our already busy schedules. Not only do we not have the physical energy for more activities, we don't have the psychic energy to worry about the world's problems.

We fill our daily schedules with bill paying, message returning, meal making, appointment keeping, note writing, house cleaning and appearance fixing. We surround ourselves with more and more technology to save us time and then often find ourselves at the mercy of it. In the end, it seems that we have even less time and more to get done. Unfortunately, this business distracts us from spending our time and energy on endeavors that truly nourish us. When you take the time to reschedule your life based on your most deeply-held values you will find all of the time necessary to live a fulfilling life that contributes to others. Upon examining your priorities you may discover that while you value spending time with your family you actually spend most of your free time watching TV. Why not shift your energies?

Many of the actions in this book take very little time to complete yet make a real contribution to the world. Some, like installing a low-flow showerhead or setting up an account at a socially responsible bank, you only have to do once. Other actions, like buying less stuff, will actually save you time that you would otherwise be spending in traffic, in lines, and working to pay for the stuff you bought. In fact we expect you to find that living out your values and engaging in meaningful daily action actually gives you energy � there's no better feeling than the feeling that you're making a positive difference in the lives of others.

TRAP #6: "I'm not a saint"

Many people stereotype individuals committed to social change as people who have put aside families, convenience, and pleasure for a cause they deem to be of greater importance. They are so committed to their cause that everything else becomes secondary. Images of Mother Theresa, Cesar Chavez, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Mahatma Gandhi come to mind. We see these individuals living in poverty, fasting, or protesting and we label them as self-proclaimed martyrs. We can't imagine doing the things they do, and we think, "I'm not someone who can change the world," "I don't want to sacrifice everything," or "I'm not that �good'."

You don't have to be a saint to make a difference in the world. The point is to balance your personal needs, your family's needs, and your community's needs. The goal of this book is not to live the perfect life but to make improvements in your life so that your actions are increasingly in-line with your values. And be sure to forgive yourself when you don't live up to your own expectations. This book is not about giving up your whole life for a cause, nor is it about good deeds that you do twice a year when you finally get all of your chores done. It is about living a life full of passion and power--one that will enrich you and the world around you. Committing yourself to making a difference can be fulfilling, meaningful, and fun. Rather than being a sacrifice, working for a better world can help you create a deep happiness beyond your imagination.

Once you have a commitment to living out your values, the next step is to learn about and take the most practical, effective actions available to bring about the better world you envision. Without adequate information it's difficult to take effective actions and easy to take actions that unintentionally work against what you're trying to accomplish.

TRAP #7: "I don't know enough about the issues"

None of us wants to feel like we're leaping into action uninformed. Because the world's problems are so complex, it's easy to think we will never really know enough to act in ways that will really help solve these problems. Because of this complexity, it is important to make an effort to get quality information about the world so that your actions will actually be effective (see the MEDIA chapter for tips). And other times you just know in your heart which actions you should take.

In our ever-changing world there will always be more to know, but taking action can actually help inform you about the issues you care about. Becoming involved connects you with others who care about the same issues and creates numerous opportunities for learning. Don't worry, you don't have to start from scratch. This book provides you with plenty of information to get started and you can seek out further information as you get inspired.

TRAP #8: "I don't know where to begin"

In fact, you have already begun. On a daily basis, you already act in ways that take others' well being into account. Whether you lend your mower to a neighbor, jump start a co-workers car or let a car change lanes in front of you on the freeway. You have probably already taken some of the actions in the book. Go ahead and check them off.

It's easy to feel overwhelmed by all of the problems and possible solutions, so just start where you feel the most comfortable. Maybe pick an area in your life where you are already taking some actions. Then work up to actions that will be more challenging. Or start with the action that would be the most fun, the one you could do with a friend, or one that will give you the most fulfillment.

Throughout the book, we suggest choosing your battles. Identify actions that are important to you and realistic for you to take on at this point in your life. Be open to challenging yourself, but don't overwhelm yourself with unrealistic expectations. If making the world better isn't fulfilling for you, you won't keep it up very long.

TRAP #9: "I'm not an activist"

For many of us when we think of social change we imagine environmentalists in tie-dye shirts blocking logging trucks, bra-burning feminists screaming for change, or gas-masked rebels facing off with lines of riot gear clad police officers. Not wanting to get involved in such intense actions or be associated with what the media portrays as "irrational," "radical" protesters, we don't get involved. In reality, people of all professions, backgrounds, interests, and lifestyles are involved in social change. Lawyers, teachers, autoworkers, computer programmers, cashiers, and clerical workers are among the many people making a difference in the streets, in the office, in their communities and at home.

You can be yourself and fulfill your commitment to a better world. You don't have to follow some pre-designed path for making the world better. You don't have to change who you are to live out your values. In fact, with your values at the forefront of your life you're actually being more �true' to yourself. This book provides you a range of actions so that you can carve out your own niche. Be creative, forge your own unique path, and translate commitment into action in your own way. The process of integrating your actions (your outer existence) with your values (your inner existence) is a lifelong endeavor. Becoming more conscious of the way you live and voluntarily choosing to live a life that balances your personal needs and the needs of others is a powerful way of living. It is this delicate balance itself which leads to fully experiencing life.

People all over the world are living out their vision for a better world. There is a global transformation occurring where average people are increasingly open to making profound changes in the ways they live. Many people are simplifying their lives, buying less stuff, working less, and giving back more to their community. Concern and knowledge about the environment has spread for the last 30 years while recycling has become a widespread habit. People are taking time to learn about other cultures and appreciate diversity. No matter where you turn you see individuals doing their part in making the world a better place.

You are not alone in building a better world.

A WORD OF CAUTION
Beware that when you start living your life more in-line with your values that some potential conflicts may arise. Your actions will sometimes threaten others who haven't put as much thought into how they want to live their lives. They may even try to stop you from making changes in your life because they do not want to examine their own existence in the world. Accept this, it comes with the territory. It is also common to take on a self-righteous attitude when you have strongly held values. This attitude is destructive to the goal of a better world. People do not want to be around someone who lives life to show others how wrong they are. If you have an understanding of the beauty and the complexity of life you will always attract people who are yearning for peace and fulfillment. Understand that you are no better than anyone else, you are just someone trying to live life the best way you know how.