“The Purpose of life is not ultimately to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make a difference that you have lived and lived well.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

It’s a new year, full of new opportunities, choices, and chances to use our lives in a meaningful way. There is never a perfect moment to begin to make a difference in the world and it’s important to understand that all our “little efforts” each day truly count.

However, if you, like me, want to use this year to be more intentional in your efforts there are a few things we all need to understand:

1.  No contribution is ever too small.  The quote ” Nobody can do everything, but everyone can do something”  really sums this up.  If everyone found small ways everyday to assist, encourage, mentor, or physically help others daily, imagine the impact of those combined efforts!!

2. Help with a Hand-up rather than a Hand-out.  Benjamin Disraeli says ” The greatest good you can do for another is not just to share your riches but to reveal to him his own.”  This lines up with the idea that if you “give a man a fish; you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish, you feed him for a lifetime!”.

Empowering another to develop skills, find their talents, or providing resources for someone to soar in a new venture…….. these can make a huge “lasting” difference.  My mother is a fantastic artist with a huge heart. For years she has taught students, very young to wonderfully mature, and has drawn amazing talent and self-esteem out of them. I firmly believe that what she has willingly poured into their lives has impacted the confidence they have in their lives today!

3. We can put our money to great use!  There are so many fantastic organizations that can take our contributions and use them for “amazing” good:  Kiva.org, Samaritans Purse, polarisproject.org, World Relief,and Compassion International are just a few…..there are so many more. Locally, the FAN program in your city reaches out to help children and families who are homeless and facing painful challenges.  Do some research and find an organization that lines up with the passions in your heart then begin to contribute!! Get involved!

Start doing whatever is within your ability today. Every effort counts, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem to you! Just do something, and do something good!

A meaningful quote from Ghandi says this:”It’s the action, not the fruit of the action that’s important.  You have to do the right thing. It may not be in your power, may not be in your time, that there will be any fruit. But that doesn’t mean you stop doing the right thing.You may never know what results can come from your action. But if you do nothing, there will be no result.”

“It’s not how much we give but how much love we put into giving”  Mother Theresa  Enough said.  🙂