Before You Change The World, Start With Yourself First

Some people try to change the world before they even look at themselves. They are these “rescuers” in shining armor, people who can only see the horizon, their dreams of greatness, but not their immediate reality. They do not have the usual humility to perceive their shortcomings and thereby miss the chance of an authentic revolution.

Lev Tolstoy said that most people wanted the world to change. Yet few begin by changing themselves. Big changes, however, have resulted from small changes in attitude, calm progress, observation, and action. 

“Lots of little people in little places doing little things can change the world.”

Eduardo Galeano

Ernest Hemingway wrote on a similar topic. He asked why some people in positions of responsibility tended to lose touch with reality. When given the opportunity to do truly good things for society, they often turned into specimens who immediately sought more. Hemingway asked what kind of “contagious agents” would trigger corruption once power was reached.

And this is the question we are now asking. Why do people who have the ability to make the world harm them in the end?

Change the world to suit your needs

“I’ll change the world, sure. But so that it fits my size. I’ll make changes, of course. But only those who live up to my expectations and are in harmony with my egoism. “

Let’s start by discussing the mentality of people who, once they reach the top, detach themselves from the real problems until they are forgotten and irrelevant.

Greek mythology describes the human character with its deadly sins and psychological rifts. The term “hubris” was used to refer to those heroes who crossed ethical boundaries and committed crimes after gaining fame, reputation, and fortune.

Hubris could be very dangerous. For when a hero dared to challenge the gods and to brag of his power through acts of violence under the influence of alcohol, malice and selfishness, Nemesis, the god of justice, appeared. When the powerful and corrupt hero was punished, the world returned to its subtle equilibrium. Still, a nemesis doesn’t always appear in real life.

People who gain power and want to change the world to their advantage are not always punished. On the contrary. Usually a following gathers around them, people who take advantage of the opportunity and support the powerful leader in such a way that they can benefit from it as well. Therefore, the world gets stuck in this reality where more cuts and needs develop and people lose hope because of the lack of justice.

Start with yourself to create a better world

In our society we often experience contradicting behavior. There are, for example, those people who defend and praise the value of respect, equality and solidarity. But at the same time they have not arranged their priorities. Who set their goals in professional projects and neglect their families.

Of course, everyone sees and understands the world in their own way. But those who move away from what is really important begin to lose their north. People whose words and actions contradict each other create a disjointed reality. It is important to be aware of these details in order to create a better world.

No one can create a better world without first trying to become a better person. It is necessary to purify the hub of hostility, suspicion, envy, and prejudice from the hub of hubris, even though many people are unaware that they have them. It’s an inner journey that not everyone wants to go on.

We invite you to reflect on the following strategies to create a more positive and hopeful world:

• Get to know yourself and take care of your inner garden. This is the first step in the ladder. To earn respect, you have to sow humility. In order for you to use empathy as a tool, you need to show yourself some affection.
• The second step is to think about the needs of your loved ones, to be empathetic. It’s always nice to do something without expecting anything in return. But remember when you offer something to demand respect at the same time.
• To change the world , you must act righteously and base your actions on compassion. There is no room here for power games, sabotage, aggression or discrimination.
• Do something good every day. Don’t neglect yourself. Just make sure when you go to bed that your head can rest on the pillow with a clear conscience.

Working with your community, caring for the environment, joining a non-governmental organization are all ways of promoting the common good. We must not neglect future generations either. Raise your children well and teach them values ​​so that they can become adults who, in turn, are capable of changing the world.