Make a Difference

by Janet M. Shlaes, Ph.D.

“Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.”  ~ William James

Everything you say or do has the potential for making a positive difference in someone’s life. Making a difference doesn’t have to take place on a grand or elaborate scale. You can start right now from exactly where you are with what you have. You don’t have to possess expansive financial, personal or time resources to make a difference. Each encounter is an opportunity to positively impact someone’s life and the lives that person comes in contact with. Acknowledge someone with a smile or greeting or engage in a spontaneous conversation; help someone carrying packages; invite someone to go ahead of you when waiting for service; assist a co-worker or neighbor; express your gratitude to someone via phone, email or text.

Generating intentional acts of kindness, friendliness, compassion, recognition and support serve to enhance our personal wellbeing, as well as that of the recipient. Develop the habit of intentional acts of kindness, choose your words carefully and deliberately seek out qualities in others to recognize and appreciate. Every interaction is an opportunity to intentionally choose to speak and act in a manner that honors others and yourself.

Janet

For additional insights and observations, check out the following posts:

Thinking Small for Big Results

Doing and Being