by John Hewitt

Created on: June 25, 2009   Last Updated: June 27, 2009

How often do you see atrocities in the world or events in your neighbourhood that you wish you could change? Do you remember asking as child why this all happens and being told "well there is nothing you can do about it"?

You as an individual have extraordinary power, creativity and resources within you. This is true despite what you have been told or what you believe about yourself. If you feel strongly about a problem and have an issue in a particular area or a campaign that you would like to be part of then know that you have the power and the resources to make a positive change and to make a difference.

I used to manage several charity shops for an animal charity in the United Kingdom. I would often have visitors to the shop saying how passionate they were about animal welfare yet felt that their contribution would not actually help. I would explain that without volunteers we simply could not survive. I would explain where money that they would help to raise would be spent and show them that what may seem like small contributions, as a whole would make a huge difference.

I had one elderly lady who did nothing put provide us with clean towels for our animal ambulance. She often said "I wish I could do more". One day on the South coast of England there was a huge oil spill and all officers were called to help the many oiled sea birds found on the beach. By this time I was in uniform and on the front line. These birds needed to be quickly rehydrated and kept warm for transport to the animal centres. The ambulance I used was full of bags of towels that this kind lady had provided. Without them the birds would have been more uncomfortable and certainly colder. Her contribution directly saved those birds from further suffering.

So you can see that despite what you may think you can make a difference in a very real and positive way. It has to start with you because you are the most important part of the equation. Even if you do not believe this at first how sad it would be that a belief such as that would prevent you from truly shining and giving of yourself. Volunteer or help or start a project DESPITE what you think and watch as your thoughts about yourself turn around as you reveal what you are capable of achieving.

If you wish then start with your own self. Make yourself the project and then extend it to those immediately around you. Save yourself, then save your household and then take this new found energy and self-belief onto the streets. Your attitude will spread and become a positive contagion that will inspire others to act in the same vain. You are then building powerful momentum for whatever campaign it is that you feel passionate about. The microcosm becomes the macrocosm and you will be able to not just to move those mountains but transform them and those who live around them.

Have confidence, have faith and believe in yourself and know deep within you that you can make a difference.

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