Our world is in dire need of being changed.   People seem to be losing hope—and getting angrier—like never before in our lifetime. So what can you and I do to make things better? We can start with these three simple actions:

 

1. Listening Well: You’ve probably heard the old saying, “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” Well, listening is the simplest form of caring. When you show genuine interest in someone it’s amazing how much that shapes his or her view of the kind of person you are.   Everyone is in such a hurry these days that when you take the time to genuinely ask someone how they are or what’s going on in their life, and then you listen to their response, you stand out in their memory as a truly caring person. Try it!

 

2. Offering Genuine Appreciation: Two words that people never get tired of hearing are THANK YOU. And those words are even more powerful when they are followed with words describing exactly what you’re thankful for. In our rush these days, we don’t always take the time to utter those two simple words of appreciation. No one likes to feel taken for granted.   Say it often; and always mean it. You will likely make someone’s day (which will make you feel better as well).

 

3. Showing Respect: Some would say that respect has all but become extinct in our culture. Social media has added to this problem, enabling people to speak their minds with little or no consequences. But here’s the thing: we don’t have to agree with one another on everything, or anything, really. If we could only learn to disagree with respect, how our world would be transformed! Respect is simply regarding another with dignity and honor without condition. Every human being bears the image of God. If for no other reason they deserve a measure of respect.

 

You may not be able to change the entire planet with these simple acts, but like ripples in a pond, if we all adopted them, how much kinder our world would become. You can’t change everyone, but you can do your part. And there’s no better time than the present!

 

Make today count!
mary

 

Challenge: Add these three actions to your day every day for a week and observe if you see a difference in your life or in someone else’s. (Feel free to share your experiences here.)

 

Copyright Mary Comm 2014. All rights reserved.