Life In All Its Complexities

Would it not be nice if life were simple? I often find my head and environment so cluttered that thinking becomes a full time job. I don't mean thinking about my next big idea or how I might change the world today, I mean thinking about getting out of bed in the morning, to what pair of shorts to wear. The problem isn't that these are difficult decisions, the difficulty is that my life is full of so many other more complex decisions that even the simple ones become chores. Making life more simple, unfortunately, requires a great deal of effort. Blocking out the myriad of thoughts and noise that exists both within and around ourselves is hard. For me I know it is so difficult because I want to do so many things. I want to stick my nose in everything and not tomorrow, I want to do it now!

We'll I can't. And unless you possess super powers, neither can you. We need to declutter our worlds. Take out the garbage so to speak. Simplification is the key to achieving all the our dreams. To make a difference we need to focus and put our efforts into one task at a time instead of spreading our mind into the many distractions that exist. I read many great bloggers on this topic and collect many tools and ideas that I think might just help me make the change. However, they become just another wasted expense or waste of time. The problem can't be fixed with these external aids because it is an internal problem. Sure, reading about the problem might help you understand the problem, but it wont help you change it. You have to want to change it. For me, the complexity of life is like an addiction. I am addicted to the clutter, to the noise. It makes me feel normal and I don't know how to kick the habit.

Every day I try a little more to simplify my life. I try to trim my list of things to do, or put off something in favor of something else. One of these days I will break the cycle. and maybe you will too. We have to want it, and then we have to make it so. The 'making it so' part is the key. Everyone says it is a good idea but very few actually do it. You might recognize that this is the exact same thing that separates the brilliant world changers from those who talk about it. Unless you do it, it means little. We are measured by our actions not our intentions. Simplifying your life is one step towards becoming the person who will change the world. If for nothing else than the process it will take to get you there. Take the first step.

Ideal World Project - Update

Check back soon for details on the launch of the Ideal World Project. Exciting times!

A Few Items Of Interest

I thought I would share a few things I have come across in the last couple of months that might be of interest to someone. They are all ideas on change and making the world a better place.

Do Something Awards:
Their mission statement is -

"We believe young people have the power to make a difference. It is our aim to inspire, support and celebrate a generation of do-ers: people who see the need to do something, believe in their ability to get it done, and then take action.

Our website is a community where young people learn, listen, speak, vote, volunteer, ask, and take action to make the world a better place. Currently, only 23% of this generation actively volunteers. Our hope is to create a do something generation: a world where more than 51% of young people are involved with community action."

Wiser Earth:
Their mission is -

"WiserEarth serves the people who are transforming the world. It is a community-editable international directory and networking forum that maps and connects the largest movement in the world – the hundreds of thousands of organizations and concerned individuals within civil society that address social justice, poverty, and the environment.

WiserEarth provides the tools and a platform for non-profit organizations, funders, social entrepreneurs, students, organizers, academics, activists, scientists, and citizens to find each other, make connections, build alliances and share resources.

WISER stands for World Index for Social and Environmental Responsibility."

Change Me:
Here is a screen capture of their website -


and finally,

The Better World Essay Contest:
This was a contest to write an essay about how to become a better world. There are five essays, each with some great ideas and meaning.

Top 10 Things To Do That Can Change the World

I thought it was about time I create a list of the things that people can do to make the world a better place. This is my list and there are certainly other ways that I will not mention but that could easily be included. I would love to hear what you think should be included on this list.

1. Seek first to understand before being understood.
This one is a no brainer. We live in a world where we expect everyone to see our point of view and unfortunately that just doesn't work. If you want people to hear your point of view then listen to someone else's first. More importantly listen with an open mind and leave your judgement's at home. What is often forgotten is that there are at least '7 different truths' to every question, every situation, and every event. Your viewpoint makes all the difference and it is important to remember that yours is not the only way to look at the answer. Look at the world through another persons eyes and you might learn something both new and beautiful.

2. Start a conversation with a stranger.
Awkward? Maybe. Incredible experience? Definitely. There are exceptions of course, like when the stranger looks at you like you are crazy, or they have nothing to say. But I have an example. This past holiday season I was at the mall and sat down for lunch. It was extremely busy and seats were a luxury. I happened to have an empty seat across from me at my table and noticed a lady looking for a place to sit. I invited her to take a seat and I struck up a conversation. Turns out she was doing jury duty on a rather interesting case, and while she couldn't fill me in on the details she was able to tell me enough that the story was one I will remember. She also gave me some great tips for presents for my mom and sister, AND wished me a merry Christmas. The point, however, was that it was an opportunity to learn something new and we are constantly passing up these opportunities for fear of awkwardness. You never know who you might meet out of sheer accident and if you believe in Karma then I guarantee it will come right back to you.

3. Make an educated donation.
In this day in age it is not enough just to make a donation. You need to know what and who your donation is going to. There are many methods to make your donation or to do the research (many of which I have mentioned over the last 4 months). The important thing about making a donation isn't the money but that you make the effort to put it in the right place. Your values are of as much importance when making a donation as the actual amount. While millions of people give to cancer this doesn't mean it is the best place to put your money (it also doesn't mean it isn't). There are too many valuable causes and far too many non-valuable ones. Take the time to research your cause and you will find that you feel far better about the donation than you normally would.

4. Give your time to your local community organization.
This is an opportunity to do several things. You will have an opportunity to help out an organization that needs the help and skills that you bring to the table. (It is important that you provide your help on a constant basis like once every other week, once a month, or more. Organizations can become taxed by dealing with a nomadic group of volunteers but if you give your continued time then they wont need to train you or watch over you over time.) You will also be able to learn about the problems affecting your community, which may at first not be so apparent. (You would be entirely surprised to see the rate of homelessness or poverty in your community when you give your time to a soup kitchen or shelter.) You will find yourself increasingly appreciative of what you have in life. (While this may sound bad, the truth is we tend to get far too caught up in our own lives and when we are confronted with those who are worse off then we tend to see the value in our own lives a little more.) Finally, you will meet with and work alongside some people in your community you would not normally have a chance to or even think to get to know. (Some of the best people, and the ones I have learned the most from, have come during a volunteer experience. Getting outside your comfort zone and meeting people with different perspectives will only help you to see the world in new ways.)

5. Read a book a month.
Any book will do, but I would suggest something of the non-fiction variety if for nothing else than it will be an opportunity to learn something new and real. Fiction books will also do, so don't be at all scared to read one of those as well. Books have a funny way of helping you expand both your mind and horizons. A nice side effect is an increased vocabulary, and while I am not a particularly good example, your grammar is likely to improve as well. There are all kinds of books about world issues, and biographies of people who have walked the path that we too want to take.

6. Find a new quote every day or week and put it on your bathroom mirror.
The quote should represent something internal to you and specific to how you feel in the moment or would like to feel. Inspiration abounds in the words of others and it can make your day to read it in the morning before you leave for work or school and get you inspired to take on the world.

7. Write down your dreams.
Everyone has dreams. Very few people follow them. Every day you neglect them your cynicism takes a greater hold on your life. Not following our dreams is to avoid our life purpose. There is a reason we dream what we do and it is because that is what will make us happy. You want the world to change then you had better start with yourself and changing how you neglect yourself. Dreams are meant to be achieved, not ignored or chalked up to a casualty of reality. I don't believe for a second that realism needs to exclude idealism. It just means that we have to really try to make our ideal world a reality. Nothing will happen without effort and the first thing to do is write down what you want to put the effort into. Putting it on paper makes it a reality and you are far more likely to pursue what is on paper than what is in your head.

8. Love someone or something.
I wish I could say that everyone will find their true love and that person will love them that way back. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Love is a funny thing because it isn't something you can control. It is important, however, to let yourself love someone or something with all your heart. We are conditioned over time, by being rejected, and getting hurt, to put walls to protect ourselves from the hurt and pain - these same walls, though, prevent us from feeling love. Love is the most powerful, and often times painful, emotion someone can have. I will tell you this, however, when you love someone or something there is nothing else like it in life. It will bring you the highest of highs in life, and even the lowest of lows - but you can't have one without the other. Love will take you where you never expected to go but when you get there you will feel as though you were meant to be there all along. The world needs more people to love, and take down the walls that prevent it from occurring. Rejecting love out of fear is the worlds greatest problem. We put up walls (both metaphorically and in reality) to stop ourselves from connecting and when we take them down we will open up the world to a whole new outlook and a world of new possibilities.

9. Say thank you, sorry, excuse me, pardon, open the door for someone, etc.
It is simple but lacking on so many levels. It used to be that manners were a valued quality and implied good character. While the former still holds true, the reality is that we as a world have collectively lost our manners. I don't know how many times I have witnessed someone bypass their manners for reasons that are so obviously as a result of no one appreciating them. The cool factor seems to be that for those who have manners are the ones who are seen as strange and uncool. Manners are a good thing and meant to be used. They imply that you appreciate someone and that you respect them as a person. They may not be your closest friend and are often times a stranger or someone you may never meet again, but they are human and should be treated as such. The point is that manners are learned and we learn them from people who give us the respect, such as friends, family, or even strangers. The world would be a far better place if people would simply use our manners.

10. Smile.
By far greatest lesson I was ever taught in life was to smile. A smile has the greatest power of any outward display or gesture. It has the ability to brighten anyones day and instantly make the world a better place. It is like a burst of sunshine on even the cloudiest of days. If there was one thing that anyone has the power to do it is smile more. If Everyone smiled could you imagine how much happier everyone would be? There are some people I know that when they smile it just makes my day - I keep reminding them to do it more often (selfishly for sure) because it is the greatest pick-me-up.

Everything on this list is something within your power to begin doing right now. It requires very little resources on your part, just your energy and passion for making the world a better place. While the world could use a few big gestures to make it better, it is the simple and small things that will have the greatest impact. Try them and tell me what you think.

New Years Resolutions

This will quite likely be my last post of the year. I would like to thank all of you who read this blog and provide your feedback - while I try to inspire people it is you who inspire me. It has been a busy few weeks in my life, even though I am on holidays. I will have a few things to announce in the new year which I am rather excited about, and I will try to post my Davos video before too long. I just have to figure out how to put it on video and post it to here and to Youtube.

This year brought many exciting changes in my life, and just a few things I wish I could have done differently. I think that is the case for most everyone, and the few who wouldn't change a thing can count themselves extremely lucky. Life has many ups a downs but I try to remember that with out the downs the ups just wouldn't exist. As we approach the new year I think everyone should think about a resolution. It is a goal for the next year of your life and the carrot at the end of the stick.

This year think about telling people your resolution. Write it down and put it on your bathroom mirror. Make it a solid goal - not just something you are thinking about and can easily forget about or let go - force yourself to make it real. Put yourself in a position to succeed and don't just create a resolution for the sake of having one.

We all have dreams, some of us over the years have been let down when we don't achieve our dreams, or feel scared to attempt accomplishing our dreams, and we are all conditioned to believe that dreams can never be reality. It is just not true - none of it. As the old saying goes, "If you believe then you will succeed" (or something like that). Dreams are not made to be broken, they are made to be accomplished. Failure to attempt is where real failure happens. If you try and it doesn't work then that is just a lesson on how you should try again next. Check out this video and get a taste of just what can happen when you dream.


My new years resolution is simple. Change the world little by little. I want to get my Ideal World book project up and running (which I will talk about in the new year), I want to graduate from International Project Management and get out into the field, I want to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro, I want to lose some weight (preferably a lot of weight haha) and I want to write blog posts more frequently. Scratch that - I will accomplish all these things. I dream big and I won't settle for anything less than my dreams. Anything in life is possible, we just need to dream it first and then go out and do it. As Nelson Mandela said, "It always seems impossible until it is done."

More Change

I have been doing a lot of research about change lately. How can I create change. On a small scale, on a large scale, on any scale. I came across some great websites and ideas and I want to share them with you guys.

Michael Norton has a great blog called 365 Ways, which is a take on the book he wrote called 365 Ways to Change the World, an activity for each day of the year. He provides some great information and case studies, books, and ideas to inspire people to make a difference. Kind of like my blog only he has been at it much longer and is a little better at it :).

A book that I came across entitled 'How To Change The World: Social Entrepreneurs and the Power of New Ideas' by David Bornstein, which also seems to have a lot of interesting stories. I have added this to my Christmas reading list (as if it isn't so long that I will be reading for the next 50 Christmas). Give it a look and if anyone has actually read it I would love a synopsis.

Another great blogger, Desiree, has created a blog by the name of 'Lets Change the World'. This blog is more of an inspiration and she has packed a lot into her blog that I haven't even begun to comb through.

For those of you who know the band Five for Fighting you may or may not have come across an initiative they created called 'What Kind of World Do You Want'. You can post a video about your idea of a perfect world for others to see and a donation will be made to a charity depending on which videos you view. Check it out to see some interesting ideas on a better, or at least different, world.

Last, but certainly not least, is a truly awesome idea, and one I wish I could say I came up with. A new website called Change.org is a social website, sort of like Facebook, only for people who are interested in charity, development, and creating change. Members have the ability to make donations to organizations of their choice, and meet others who are interested in similar organizations or ideas. It is a great idea and one I am more than positive will grown into something special.

If anyone has other resources that they want to share I would love to hear about them. I have a hankering for some CHANGE and the only cure is more information.