Have you ever wondered whether the things that you do day to day impact anyone positively? Do you wonder whether your presence actually makes a difference in the life of someone else?
We all do. We all want to make a difference for someone else and that’s why you practice kindness in everything you do. It’s why you see someone struggling and you reach out a hand for help. Whether you are donating time or money to organizations that do big projects like the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation or Haiti Children’s Project, or you are simply guiding a friend in their career choices, you are making a difference.
The way in which you make a difference depends on the impact you want to have, and we’ve got some tips to ensure that the time you take – even an hour – out of your life can make a difference to someone else.
When You are Intentional…
…you can make a big difference. Do you intentionally put yourself in a position to give a hand to someone else? Are you recognizing people around you struggling and are you offering to help? Your actions for good need to have an intention behind them, and it’s not always going to be about bettering your position.
If you’re in a management position at work, giving pointers and advice to someone looking for a promotion is an intentional act to help them. Their goals don’t always have to align with yours and that’s okay! The point is that you would have been a pivotal person in their life to help them take their next step. If you’re volunteering your time or offering money to Haiti Children’s Project, your very existence is going to make a difference to those who need it the most.
When You Put Yourself Second…
…it’s not always a bad thing. In life, you should be putting your best interests first – of course you should. However, sometimes that can be set aside in the interests of someone else who is struggling. You can put aside anything to reach out a hand and make sure that other people are on your level of success.
Let people watch how you do things and let them learn from you. Offer help to those who are in a position less fortunate than you and smile knowing that they will always consider your help as a turning point in their life.
When You Don’t Make It About you…
…it becomes about someone else. It doesn’t always have to be about you. It can feel good to volunteer to projects like the Haiti Children’s Project, but it’s not about making YOU feel good. It’s about putting your time into a project that benefits so many others.
It’s about recognizing the privileged position that you are in and giving of yourself to bring others into a better position. You will be utterly amazed at the impact you can have on the lives of others if you just make the effort.
One hour of your time makes a difference – are you willing to give that time?