How Can You Change the World?

Step out of your comfort zone.

Use what's inside you to change the world.

Do you want to change the world? If you do, it's a good idea to think of yourself as a jug.

I just finished reading the very long novel Framley Parsonage by Anthony Trollope, a wordy nineteenth century fiction writer. From the thousands of words that passed in front of my eyes I will always remember thirteen of them:

One can only pour out of a jug that which is in it.

I read it several times, intrigued by its wit and wisdom.

Then I made it personal:

I can only pour out of myself that which is in me.

What’s inside me? What tools do I have to change the world?

Anger, intolerance, impatience, tightness? Love, compassion, attention, space?

Only I can answer that, and only I can change the content.

But what intrigues me about this analogy of being a jug is not so much what’s in the jug, but how the jug feels when it's tipped up so its contents can pour out.

A jug can sit on a table full to the top with the custard of kindness, but until it’s tipped up, all that kindness custard is doing no one any good.

It’s when we’re tipped up that we’re being useful to the world.

To change the world, pour yourself out.

How does a jug feel when it’s tipped up?

Unbalanced. Slightly dizzy. Disoriented. Out of place. Unstable. Insecure. Unsure of what will happen next.

So when we feel any or all of those above qualities, that’s when we’re about to change the world.

That’s when what’s inside us is about to be put to good use.

How do you change the world?

When we’re feeling safe, comfortable and complacent we’re of no use to anyone.

It’s when we’re out of our comfort zone that we do the most good.

So, fill yourself up with good things.

Step out of your comfort zone.

Then pour yourself out.

That's how you change the world.

With love, Marlane