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Peace be with you.

Welcome to another week!

Do you ever feel like nothing you do truly makes a difference?

In daily life, the repetition of the workday, morning and evening commutes, doing the same routine most days of the week can either lull you into contentment, which is not a bad thing, or make you feel like you’re stuck in a rut, which can lead to frustration and burnout.

Before you decide you need to quit everything and run off on an adventure a la The Hobbit or Star Wars, let’s think about the little things you do – often without even thinking about it – that actually do impact the world around you.

Remember when my challenge was for you to just smile at a stranger? That little bit of warmth you showed another soul might have been just what they needed to brighten their mood and make them feel better about their situation or the world around them, and it could have made their interactions with others more positive, too.

Letting someone merge ahead of you in traffic? That person might have been anxious about being late for work, and you gave them a reason to exhale. And because of that moment, they may feel comfortable letting someone else merge safely farther down the road.

Approaching a person who’s difficult for you to get along with – with a sense of curiosity, and even compassion? You might have given them an opportunity to look at you and others from a different, less confrontational perspective.

Even an act as simple as introducing two people who have something in common can make a big difference to those two people. Whether the meeting leads to a new close friendship, a business relationship, or another introduction down the road that proves beneficial to one of them, your small action has a ripple effect that can impact the future of more than just those two people.

As an author, I’m a keen observer of cause and effect, so I’ve trained myself to see how even the tiniest events can make a big difference down the road to those involved. To be sure, the impact may be positive or negative, but we’re here to influence the world positively.  

If you’re still having a hard time seeing how you’ve made a difference recently, think about the people you’ve interacted with in the last week. Did you smile at them, treat them with respect and kindness, or offer an authentic compliment or word of encouragement?

If you did, that’s great! You likely impacted their day in a positive way. If you didn’t, don’t beat yourself up. We all have our off days. You can make a better effort with your next opportunity.

My challenge to you this week is to spend some time thinking about the little ways you can positively influence others in your day-to-day life. If you feel called to take an action, like making an introduction, complimenting a coworker, or volunteering for a cause, you should absolutely do those things. Going back to the idea of keeping it simple – make a habit of smiling from the heart at everyone you encounter, and you’ll automatically create those little ripples that can lead to bigger waves.

Now, if you still want to plan an adventure, you have my permission. But I hope you don’t think escaping daily life is necessary to make a difference in the world around you.

Go forth and make ripples!

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