We Don’t Need to Change the World
Posted on 11. Dec, 2011 by Shawn Murphy in 1 Leadership
Leo Tolstoy stopped me in my tracks last week with a powerful reminder about change.
He spoke to me, “Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.”
The nobility imbued into changing the world cannot be something done outside ourselves. No. Changing the world is noble because it begins with each of us drawing a line in the sand. That line represents our choice to act to make things better for others. On one side is a way that no longer works. The opposite side is a way that redefines.
Tolstoy’s wisdom pulls it back to us. To redefine he accurately noted that we can change the world by shifting how we, individually and collectively, look within to assess what we’re doing that’s not working for the greater good. You define the greater good based on your circumstances. Perhaps it’s your team. Or your family.
Changing the world is an outcome of changing how we each respond to and connect with people. It’s an outcome based on our choice of the other side that redefines.
We change the world by softening our hearts to see how we can become more compassionate. Or more humble. Or more understanding of others. We change the world by a changed heart and actions that help, that make a difference.
We don’t need to change the world. The world is what we’ve created through our choices. What we change is our hearts, our minds, our actions for the sole purpose of improving the spaces in which we live.
Photo used courtesy of NASA Goddard Photo and Video
19 Responses to “We Don’t Need to Change the World”
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We Don’t Need to Change the World
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Page Cole: Great post Shawn, and thank you! I don't know if ...
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Suchitra Mishra (@suchimishra): Hello Shawn, Loved following your blog and lear...
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Alan Kay: It's so true...the waiting game. Part of the issue...
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Jon M: Great job, Shawn! Look forward to what is ahead fo...
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Robyn McMaster: Thanks, Sean, for such an inspiring post. It's ...
Alan Kay
11. Dec, 2011
I think Covey said, to change others, we must first change ourselves. The process I use for helping my clients change goes like this:
1. What’s working (that we don’t need change)?
2. Suppose the problem we have went away, what would we be doing differently?
3. What small steps would take us in that direction right away?
Have a friend or coach ask you these questions about what needs to change in yourself.
Shawn Murphy
11. Dec, 2011
Alan,
You address blind spots with these questions. I’m sure your clients appreciate the guidance. Perhaps not immediately.
Be well,
Shawn
Pauline Roberts
11. Dec, 2011
This is so true- as a teacher it is a much more daunting task but so much more satisfying if we achieve it with our students
Shawn Murphy
11. Dec, 2011
Pauline,
I’m grateful for teachers who are willing to take on the more difficult lessons such as helping students look at themselves to bring change. I couldn’t agree any more about how daunting yet satisfying such work can be.
Thank you for your hard work.
Shawn
Bruce Sallan (@BruceSallan)
11. Dec, 2011
We can change the world. One person at a time!
Shawn Murphy
11. Dec, 2011
..and that person is ourselves!
Aaron@Biebert
11. Dec, 2011
Shawn, I think Tolstoy makes a great point. Yet, I wonder if after people have focused on themselves for too long, their focus fails to be on the world.
Some people get lost staring in the mirror.
At some point we must break free, take the best version of ourselves that we can muster, and go work to make the world a better place.
Just my two cents. Love the discussion. Love the post. Makes me think.
Thanks Shawn!
Shawn Murphy
11. Dec, 2011
Aaron,
You make a good point about the limitations self-seeking actions has placed on progress. In my experiences, too many overlook how to model needed change personally. Instead too many make it mostly about “them.” “They” need to be more understanding. “They” need to listen to us.
In these examples, my question to leaders is how do you seek to understand others? How do you show that you listen and hear others?
I like your thoughtful question.
Shawn
Doug Rice
12. Dec, 2011
Excellent insight, Shawn! We can’t change the world directly–that change is a byproduct of the changes we make in ourselves and the immediate interactions we have with those around us. The “world” actually isn’t a real thing–it’s a composite of the individuals in it. If we want to change the entire system, we’ll focus on those people with whom we have the most direct impact.
Shawn Murphy
12. Dec, 2011
Doug,
Assuming we don’t fall for thinking we can change people and focus on our own actions, change is more possible.
Michele Price (@prosperitygal)
12. Dec, 2011
Aaron I would say if folks have gotten lost in the mirror then they have not “changed” they have gotten absorbed. We both know that is two totally different things.
How can we make effective change in the world if we are unable to make it in ourselves first? What we are is what we collectively create in our worlds.
Enjoyed the Tolstoy analogy.
Simon Harvey
12. Dec, 2011
Shawn, you picked one of favorite quotes and something close to my heart. Changing the world is what we do every day (unfortunately not all good) as we concentrate our actions and minds on the things we think we need.
I like your view on “softening our hearts” and it is wonderful to read your words that obviously have a lot of passion behind them. I think you are right on point and I join you in looking within to learn and see what beauty, love and compassion is there.
It is people such as yourself, with open hearts and minds that discover the energy, life and growth that self awareness and looking within can bring.
Thanks so much for the post, and thank Ted Coine for tweeting the link that allowed me to find you. As Mahatma Gandhi said.
“Be the change that you wish to see in the world.”
Shawn Murphy
12. Dec, 2011
Simon,
Sometimes the simplest things are the hardest to see. Though looking to change ourselves and not the world is simple in concept, it’s not easy to see the necessity or what we personally need to change.
Thank you for your kind words, Simon. Ted is a good friend. Glad we’ve crossed paths through his tweets.
Be well,
Shawn
Jatinder Vijh
12. Dec, 2011
Mahatama Gandhi echoed the same sentiments when he said, ” If you want to see change, be that change”.
Shawn Murphy
13. Dec, 2011
Jatinder,
Nothing better than modeling the way.
Suchitra Mishra
15. Dec, 2011
Hello Shawn,
I had missed this brilliant post. I have just started writing as you know and your post though very insightful made me think more about you than the content.
The reason being that all your posts have a common thread – you write not about a topic but about YOUR thoughts on a topic if you know what I mean. That makes each post so special as they are a combination of experience, logic and your unique perspective.
I have always been a “take control” and “lets fix it” kind of person. It took me a few hard knocks to realize that there is a lot that you cannot change or “fix” – you have to change your attitude and approach towards it and just move forward.
Thanks,
Suchitra
Shawn Murphy
20. Dec, 2011
Suchitra,
I appreciate your support. Over the past several days, I’ve come back to your comment about my writing perspective. It’s stuck with me. Thank you for stoking the fires of my introspection.
Greg Marcus
21. Dec, 2011
My first visit to your blog, and you are spot on.
What I see in your post is a call to take responsibility for our own actions and choices.
It is so easy to cop out in the corporate world – to say that is the way we do things here, or to sit by and through our silence give tacit approval to things that go against our values.
It is hard, because within a corporate culture, the pressure to conform, to make the numbers can be relentless.
It’s more than the egregious cases like Goldman Sachs. It’s every time we tolerate the asshole, or don’t stick up for ourselves, or put the short term return over the long term relationship with the customer. It is doing “what is best for the company,” instead of “what is best.”
By reconnecting with our values, we can change back into the people we really want to be, which will make the world a place we really want to live.
Shawn Murphy
22. Dec, 2011
Thank you, Greg, for reading and commenting. When we each model behaviors that show our compassion for and thoughtfulness in how we treat employees as people, we make the spaces we share a little better. Idealistic? Perhaps. But a belief I know you and I are willing to act on.
Be well, Greg.