Daily Inspiration 10-4-18

"You cannot get through

a single day

without having an impact
on the world around you. 

 What you do 

makes a difference." 

-- Jane Goodall 

[Classic post from 8-21-14]

Jane Goodall added just a bit to this quote by saying, "and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make." I would interpret this just a tiny bit different that might make a huge difference by changing the word 'have' to 'get.' So it would say, "and you get to decide what kind of difference you want to make." I believe we always get to choose if we want to.

The more I learn about life, the more clearly it resonates with me that we are spiritual beings having a physical experience. It also means that we all come from the same source and we are all connected in ways that are hard to imagine in this physical life where we perceive ourselves separate from each other and everything else. I think that the underlying truth is that as Jane Goodall says, that we cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around us. We likely have little or no idea of that impact, but it can be dramatic or small, yet it becomes part of the whole.

Consider some of these ideas:

You are genuinely kind to someone and you did not know that this day was one of the lowest points in that person's life. This act of kindness may have been very small to the giver and a life-changing event to the other.

Maybe something you said in the way that you said it was the impetus to a decision in another that set them on a whole new life adventure of joy and success.

It could be just a look on your face which was a physical manifestation of your inner thought which someone across the room noticed and felt and they became inspired and wanted to feel the way that you appeared to feel.

Perhaps your act of generosity without any ulterior motives was noticed by someone who has been reluctant to express their generosity, and as a direct result of that moment became a more generous person.

Maybe you offered to help someone by giving them instruction from the skills that you have acquired over time, and this bit of training set them on a mighty successful and profitable path.


We may never find out in what way we have touched another that created a benefit to them, but it is certain to me that we will have some kind of impact. Perhaps we can be lucky enough to learn of some of those instances, but even the knowledge that may bring us a bit of joy and wonder is a tiny fraction of the reality of the effect. Knowing this effect and its strength may encourage us to take better care of the opportunity of affecting others. That's why I changed the word from 'have to' to 'get to.' It truly is an opportunity, and when accepted with a joyous heart changes the world in very positive ways.


The Best Way To Have The Best Impact Is Simple: Just Be Yourself. Not The Way You May Have Learned To Be, But The Way You Really And Truly Are Deep Inside. 

Spread Some Joy Today--because you just can't help it if you're joyous.