How Can One Person Make a Difference?

I think deep down in all of us, we want to ‘make a difference’ in this world. Some people are able to affect change on a global scale, like Bob Geldof and the Live Aid Concert which raised millions of dollars to help ease poverty and famine in Ethiopia. Geldof did not start out with a noble mission of changing the world’s attitude to famine, but appalled by images of famine in Dafur he took action. In his own words, Geldof says that momentum built faster than he could ever imagine or organise: “ hundreds of people dropped everything to do this one thing…..No one particularly stood in my way; on the contrary, doors impenetrable a week earlier swung open effortlessly.”(Geldof, Is That It?, 281)

In the book, 'Getting to Maybe: How the World is Changed', authors Westley et al, discuss at length this notion of change and the growing social conscience and the need to take action on matters that affect all of humanity and how momentum can build quickly to bring this about. Famous author and poet, Victor Hugo once said: ‘There is nothing more powerful than an idea whose time has come.’ and this has been the case, time again, in the turning points of human history. Think of the change that Gandhi brought through his ‘passive resistance’ which led to the liberation of the people of India or the changes wrought by the great humanitarian and politician, Martin Luther King to the African Americans, or Mother Teresa whose impact on the poorest of the poor in Calcutta was profound in establishing the Missionaries of Charity.

How can one person affect this kind of change in society? It bears thinking about because, so often, it is the vision or impetus of a single person that is enough to bring about not only change at the local level but significant change globally, too. Al Gore may not have been the most successful of modern day American politicians, but he certainly brought the world’s attention to the issue of climate change with his book, documentary and presentations based on “An Inconvenient Truth”. As one individual, he was the catalyst for a global shift in thinking about the impact of humans on the rate of climate change.

The concept of momentum or what psychologist, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (no - that’s not a spelling mistake) calls ‘finding flow’ is a science in itself. He describes the ability of any person to focus entirely on a project which becomes far more significant than their own well being. Translated, I guess this means ‘being in the zone’, where we are totally focused on a bigger need than our own needs. This kind of focus or flow builds momentum too. Others are drawn into the project resulting in an increased energy level by everyone, who shares the common idea and a strong common sense of purpose.

Millard Fuller makes the point that:
“For a community to be whole and healthy, it must be based on people's love and concern for each other.”
A community built on trust, love and concern for one anther and wanting the very best possible outcomes is a powerful motivator. This is surely the best way to bring about change in our society..... starting at the local level is the most effective way to start building momentum and change for the good of all.

One of my favourite poems is one written by George Bernard Shaw. I will leave you with a little quote from this poem:

“I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community and as long as I live, it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can. I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work the more I live.”

What better purpose can there be in life but to make a difference to someone else’s life and to make a difference in this world.