How to Make the World a Better Place

“if everyone left people better than they found them”

There’s a very powerful thought behind that phrase which could only have a great impact upon the society in which we live.

Thanks for a great post that is both a great read and an inspiration.

Leave People Better Than You Found Them – could be a great motto.

[...] a quiet day but not, it seems, on the pick the brain website. There they have a new post about how to make the world a better place. This seems a pretty huge and noble effort for a Monday [...]

If more people would look for ways to give to others and to the world, rather than ways to take something for themselves, the world would be a better place…

“Strange is our situation here upon earth. Each of us comes for a short visit, not knowing why, yet sometimes seeming to a divine purpose. From the standpoint of daily life, however, there is one thing we do know: That we are here for the sake of others…for the countless unknown souls with whose fate we are connected by a bond of sympathy. Many times a day, I realize how much my outer and inner life is built upon the labors of people, both living and dead, and how earnestly I must exert myself in order to give in return as much as I have received.” ~ Albert Einstein

Hi Hunter,

I like this post a lot. I call this process “spreading the Light”. Light is infinite and we have more when we share.

It’s so important to treat people like people. It’s a basic principle of success, too. I read your blog basically I like you and like conversing with you over the comments, and I guess many are doing the same.

Blessings,

Akemi Gaines

This is truly an inspirational post.

Doug, sure, I’ll make that one of my mottos!

Kent, wow, this is very different from the other Einstein quotes I’ve seen. Thanks for posting it.

I love the idea of leaving someone better off than how you found them. I’m always looking for ways to be more compassionate. Not only do you make someone’s day, and feel better yourself, but you are increasing the collective positive energy in the world. Something we as people should cultivate more of between one another. Even a smile will do the trick Thanks for the inspiration!

Akemi, lately I’ve heard people talking about how one candle can light another without losing its flame. Spreading the light works both literally and figuratively.

“To leave people better than I found them” – I like this phrase a lot. It might very well become part of my core value statement. It sounds more ‘real’ than the universal and devaluated term “love”. Though it seemlessly fits in the “love thy neighbor as thyself” as Jesus expressed it in the second great commmandment of love (Matthew 22:35).

About not bringing trash in: Will Bowen wrote “A Complaint Free World: How to Stop Complaining and Start Enjoying the Life You Always Wanted”. Although it seems Will created a serious movement around it in the US, I learned from it just recently (the book finally got translated in Dutch). It looks to me like a viable step-by-step method to train yourself in refraining from complaining. More information can be found on http://www.acomplaintfreeworld.org/book.html

Hunter, like Rick, your words “To leave people better than I found them” really struck me.

I all too often find myself burdening other people with tiny worries, problems and complaints. I think rather than seeing how far through the day I can get before I hear someone else complain, I should probably first look to how long *I* can go without complaining …

I’d definitely like people to feel better after talking to me, just as I’d like people to feel better after they read one of my blog articles. Somehow, I find it easier to be a good listener for people I don’t know very well — with very close friends and family, I tend to talk at them about my problems. Definitely a habit I need to break.

Thanks for posting something that made me sit up and take a good look at my own bad habits!

Hi Hunter: What a great way to apply something that you learned as a Boy Scout to the world at large. Businesses should give more to their customers than they expect, you should go beyond just adhering to your position description at work, and so on. And I love the idea of leaving people better off than when you found them. Great post!

Yes, that is what I’m talking about “Lightwork” because we are Lightworkers.

Bravo! Love the idea! And a simple smile or “hi” takes a lot of “trash” out for most people, even total strangers! : )

“To leave people better than I found them” – this is such a simple, yet powerful, idea. Great article Hunter.

Thanks, Kathleen. If everyone is inspired to do just a little bit, the cumulative effects can be tremendous.

Amber, smiling is a good idea. It costs nothing but means a lot.

Rick, I’m so glad you mentioned Will Bowen. I did the purple bracelet thing myself, and it’s definitely worth checking out. I have his book, but haven’t read it yet.

Ali, I guess if you’re the one who’s complaining, then yes, you should start with yourself! All of us should really take a good look at our habits, because when we’re used to them, we keep reinforcing them without even thinking about it.

Marelisa, you’re right, this can apply to many aspects of our lives. No matter what the situation is, doing a little more than you have to shows that you care.

Shanel, definitely! Simply not frowning puts you above most people, and then a smile is the icing on the cake.

Peter, sometimes the simplest things are the most powerful, aren’t they?

That’s the ridiculous thing about this world: if every body just did the right thing it’d be paradise.

Yep – if only …

But every little bit counts, and my motivation in life is a stubborn belief that everything good we do contributes to the positive evolution of life on Earth.

“But I was really surprised when I realized how much we whine about things that we can’t change and which don’t matter anyway. Why do we need to actively contribute to each other’s misery?”

Persistent whining is negative, but sometimes people ‘share misery’ because it’s comforting to know someone else shares their problem. It gives us something to laugh about. If you and I are in an elevator and seem to be the only two people in the building who didn’t bring an umbrella on a rainy day, we can laugh about our poor situation. Talking about our problems can be liberating or help bring things into focus. It’s consistent or persistent whining that causes problems; it’s complaining without effort to change or effort to accept.

As to the main intent of your post, I believe a quotation attributed to the Buddha is appropriate:

“Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.”

It is a wonderful thing to know that the best things in life such as love and happiness are increased by giving them away for free.

Nice post!

Great advice about leaving the world a better place than we’ve found it. Most of us are just not aware of how much toxicity we add to the air, with our complaints. When we become aware of how we ourselves are polluting the earth in our own way, we will also begin to show a little interest, care and kindness to others.

great post! And you are right .. imagine if we could bring everyone in the world to act like this .. isn’t it the law of the “small steps big success” ?
keep going!

This is a great read, and reminder. We need to be reminded from time to time that we are part of the whole of mankind.
And with “love thy neighbor as thyself” spoken more by Bono these days, that it isn’t a suggestion, but a command. It would be good for us to take that seriously, since we will be asked about it, when we meet our maker.

Great post. Only if we could get everyone to follow it, imagine the abundant positivity and all that could be accomplished.

i want to ask you something.how to make the world a better place to live

Great thoughts Hunter. It’s amazing how much power we have to create positive vibes in the world. Each of us has the potential to make the world a better place by consciously doing things that add to our own well-being and that of others. It does take deliberate effort but the reward is that we get to live a happy life and help others do the same.

I have a way to make the world a better place and share the light. Whenever I return a book to the local library, I put a little piece of paper in it saying “Have a nice day ”. I found a piece of paper in a book saying this once and it made my day-so I decided to share that happiness around. It’s a little thing, but it’s a start.

hi there

good for you

you for good