Changing Your Life Changing The World!

The International Day of Peace is observed around the world on 21 September. This a special day to strengthen the ideals of peace, both within and among all nations and peoples.  It happens to be my birthday as well.  Each year I am amazed with this coincidence as I become more and more passionate about inner and outer peace.  In this post I am inspired by Admiral William H. McRaven’s speech about changing the world by changing your life.

The World Needs Changing

 The world needs changing.  Alarm bells ringing both at a personal as well as a global level.  That is why last year United Nation Member States adopted in a summit on International Day of Peace Sustainable Development Goals as the building blocks of peace in order to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all.

I Can Change My Life

Often I sense the helplessness of individuals in the face of such grand scale problems we created on our planet.  I liked Admiral William H. McRaven’s Commencement Address at the University of Texas in Austin, 2 years ago. He shares what he learnt from his Navy SEAL Basic Training how this sense of helplessness can be replaced by purposeful activity for the benefit of the world, and oneself.

He says that since we meet about 10,000 people in our lives, if we change the lives of only 10 of these people and thus 10 people change the life of 10 more people; in 5 generations will the lives of 100,000 people will be changed. One few more generations and the lives of the entire population of the world would be changed.

Here are the 10 lessons that can be learnt from Basic Seal Training:

1-) If you want to change the world; focus on achieving little tasks.  This encourages you to do more and prepares for the big things.

2-) If you want to change the world; do it with someone, with help.  It is okay to get help.

3-) If you want to change the world; measure people by the size of their heart.

4-) If you want to change the world; when you fail move on and keep trying.

5-) If you want to change the world; don’t be discharged be encharged.

6-) If you want to change the world; sometimes you have to take risks head first.

7-) If you want to change the world; don’t be scared of facing challenges.

8 -) If you want to change the world; you must stay calm in the midst of challenges.

9-) If you want to change the world; never give up.

10-) One person can change the world by giving others hope.

I Am Getting Help

This post is based on my daughter’s summary of the admiral’s speech.  I would like to thank my husband and daughter who used this material in their home education lesson and shared with me.

I wish inner and outer peace for us all!

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