Photo Donated by Sherry Stehr
You may be doing good works already – at your job
Most of us have a tendency to take ourselves for granted. Our lives and activities are normal, even boring to us, but we rarely see them from an outsider’s point of view. It’s a common thing. We think our talents, skills, and gifts to the world are “no big deal” only because we are so used to them. For instance, I met a natural contortionist who could twist herself into a pretzel like it was nothing. When she stretched at the gym people would stop what they were doing and stare in awe. She said, “It’s no big deal. I’m just warming up.” Of course, I replied, “It’s no big deal to you because you do it all the time! I would break in half if I tried that.” To a power lifter, hoisting 500 lbs is no big deal. To a chef, creating a perfect entree is no big deal. To an accountant, crunching long strings of numbers is no big deal. And to a teacher, dealing with hordes of kids is no big deal. There are millions of people out there who would think that what you do is amazing, even impossible for them.
If you don’t think that you can change the world, I challenge you to think about how you are doing it already through your work. If you are doing legal work, then you are changing the world in a positive way, no matter how insignificant you may think it is. Please take a moment to reevaluate your job through a wider lens. You are not just teaching classes. You are shaping the minds of future decision-makers. You are not just driving a truck. You are delivering much-needed goods to people who depend upon them. You are not just waiting on tables. You are helping people to escape from the stresses of the workplace, home, or kitchen. You are not just answering phones. You are providing assistance and guidance for stressed people who don’t know where to turn. You are not just operating a cash register. You are making sure that people are getting what they need while keeping the store in business, and you are hopefully brightening the customers’ days as well! You get the idea. Please take a moment to think about all of the things that you already do at work that improve the lives of others, answer their questions, make their lives simpler or less stressful, prepare them, sustain them…. It’s not just about the paycheck, and it’s not just about you. Even if you thought it was, you now realize that there is more to it. If you can do all of that and not even know it, imagine all that you can do to change the world when you actually put your mind to it. Everyone is a powerhouse for positive change.
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