You Must Be the Change

"You must be the change you want to see in the world." - Mahatma Ghandi

Change is not always a bad thing.  Change can often times be good.  Great even.  But, like all things in life, it has to start with you.  Shannon and I talked about this a bit on last Monday's radio show.  You have to be honest with yourself, first and foremost, about your intentions behind your words or actions.  You have to love yourself before you can love anyone else.  It all begins with YOU. 

If there are qualities and energies that you'd like to see, you have to be those qualities and energies first.  Expecting your friends, coworkers, or family members to be honest with you requires you being honest yourself.  Expecting those same people to be nicer requires you being nice yourself.  Expecting those people to be loving requires you to be loving yourself. 

Some of you might say, "But I AM nice, loving, and honest and I don't get it in return."  Let's look into that...  First, are you displaying the positive qualities looking for specific reciprocation?  Love, compassion, honesty ... these things should all naturally be unconditional.  It's not fair or right to only love someone IF they are going to love you back. 
Second...  being nice, loving, or honest to one person doesn't mean that all people in your life are going to be that way in return.  We will always encounter the negative side of people and situations.  What makes the difference is the way we respond to the test or lesson that the Universe is giving to us.  
Third ... be aware.  Be aware.  Be aware.  Always be aware of yourself and your thoughts.  The key to being that "change" lies here.  If you are aware of yourSELF and your thoughts, you are paying attention and are able to make adjustments accordingly. 

A journey starts with one footstep.  A drop in the ocean creates an enormous ripple effect.  In the sea of people that make up the world, be the person to take the first step on the journey of making the world a better place.