How You Can Make the World Better — Big Things That Make a Difference
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
—Margaret Mead
Each year, October 22nd marks International Make a Difference Day. It’s a day to recognize how the efforts of individuals can make a difference in the world by making it better.
“Making a difference” means doing something that makes the world a better place. Are you living in a way that makes the world a better place? If that is something you’d like to do, we want you to know that you can do it, no matter your age or how much training you’ve had. You have the ability to make a BIG impact on the world.
Starting with small steps
If the idea of making a big impact sounds too overwhelming, know that you can start small. You can start with small steps, like those mentioned in our last article or you can go straight to doing something big. We’re going to share what some of those big things are next!
Make a difference with your choice of career or business
You can make a career out of helping others. Many find that their jobs helping people are highly satisfying and fulfilling. Here are a few jobs that allow you to help people directly and make a difference for some of the most vulnerable:
Teacher
Social Worker
Leader
Mentor
Coach - Life Coach or Sports Coach
First Responders - Law Enforcement and healthcare workers
“What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.”
― Jane Goodall
Make a difference by volunteering
Not a lot needs to be said here except, volunteering regularly is a way to help others and improve your well-being because studies have repeatedly shown that volunteering improves health and happiness. If you want to feel happy, all you need to do is focus on helping others. In the process of helping others, you are likely to find the happiness that you are looking for. You can find numerous volunteer opportunities at sites like volunteermatch.org.
“Volunteering is an act of heroism on a grand scale. And it matters profoundly. It does more than help people beat the odds; it changes the odds.” – William J. Clinton
Make a Difference by Giving Financially
If you aren’t able to give your time, giving money is a good way to support organizations you appreciate. By giving financially, you can be sure that the organizations you care about can keep doing their work. The great thing about giving is that at some point, organizations that may have helped you or someone you know can keep helping others. If you’re not able to give a lot, a few dollars a month can help.
“We must give more in order to get more. It is the generous giving of ourselves that produces the generous harvest.” ―Orison Swett Marden
Make a Difference by Adopting or Fostering
For those that have the ability and time to share, fostering a child is an amazing way to make a difference. You get to play a role in helping a family reunify or a child find permanency. Fostering or adopting is a big commitment, but it can be life changing.
In the State of Arizona, there is a process to becoming a foster parent or family. Training is involved so potential foster families understand how to meet the specific needs of children in foster care. You can learn more about fostering on the Arizona Department of Child Safety website.
Sources
How Do I Make A Difference in This World?
How To Make a Difference: In People's Lives, The Community, & The World
