You Can Change the World

Did you know that you can change the world? 

I recently had a conversation with some teenagers and we were discussing current events and the world we live in right now. 

They said to me with complete conviction, “You can not change the world. It is the way it is and it always will be this way. Nothing you do matters or will make any difference so why bother trying. It's a waste of time.”

I was shocked.

To see these young adults believe that there is no hope in the world and that they feel helpless to make any difference was heartbreaking.  

Now for those of you with teens, you know for a fact that you cannot argue with them.  

So instead, I listened and then I shared my theory of the Ripple Effect and how I feel like I change the world every single day of my life. 

I can't say that we walked away in agreement with each other, but I can say that seeds were planted of a possibility that these young people could create a world they are proud to live in. 

This conversation also fueled me more than ever to share the power of the Ripple Effect and to continue empowering this community now more than ever to know that change is possible.  

I believe wholeheartedly that every single person has the ability to change the world and I believe the problem is that too many people share the views of these teens and stay in helplessness versus embracing their personal empowerment and responsibility. 

How? 

How can one person change the world?

The Ripple Effect. 

The ripple effect is a powerful practice that creates lasting change by each person having a positive effect on their circle of influence, which will then have a positive effect on their circles of influence, and on and on it goes in an endless ripple effect changing the world. 

(Think of the Pay it Forward movie with Kevin Spacey and Helen Hunt based on the Catherine Ryan Hyde novel.)

Did you know that on average each person will meet 80,000 people in their lifetime? (this averages about three new people a day, if they live to the age of 73) 

Now, most of these people will be strangers, however of those 80,000 people you will have a circle of influence. These are people that you interact with consistently on a regular basis throughout your life, so your energy regularly influences them. 

We become like the people we spend the most time with. 

Therefore, If you spend most of your time around people who are negative and complain, you will tend to be negative and complain more.

If you spend most of your time around people who are drinking, you tend to drink more. 

If you spend most of your time around people who are exercising, you tend to exercise more.

The Ripple Effect requires each person to show up as their best self every day. For this practice to work, you must commit to show up in your day-to-day life with an energy of safety, service, empathy, compassion, and peacefulness.  

As you show up in this way, your energy will emanate a vibration that will have a ripple effect and influence the circle of people that are in your life. As your energy influences this circle, it will then expand and begin to influence their own personal circles as well. 

The Ripple Effect has no end, it's an endless expansion of peacefulness, safety, compassion, service, and joy. 

The Ripple Effect requires that you take responsibility for your thoughts, feelings, and actions, which means you are no longer a passive or helpless participant in your life, but an empowered co-creator of the world. It’s time for you to reclaim your power from the world and decide who you are and how you will show up in the world.

It matters. It makes a difference. 

You have all experienced the Ripple Effect. 

Example: Did you ever work in a toxic work environment and you began to notice a shift in your mood and even your health? This is a classic example of the Ripple Effect. 

Did you ever hang out with someone who was super negative and complained about everything and you left feeling drained and depleted? This is another example of the Ripple Effect. 

We are vibrational beings, everything is energy and we emit energy and we respond to the energies that surround us.  

Therefore, you have to ask yourself what energetic vibrations (vibes) am I sending out into the world? 

What vibrational frequencies am I amplifying in the world? 

Am I amplifying fear and stress? 

Am I amplifying love and peace? 

The choice is yours. 

The Ripple Effect is not for the faint hearted, it’s hard work, which is why so many people would rather play the helpless victim (like I did for years). There is great integrity involved with the Ripple Effect; it requires you to show up every single day as the best version of you. It requires that you practice peace, compassion, and service every single day.  

Ask yourself how do I show up each day? 

How do I treat the people around me?  

Do I follow the Golden Rule? Do I treat people the way I want to be treated?  

These are questions that I ask myself every day, these are the values that I live by. These are the vibrations I practice emanating every single day. 

The Ripple Effect is not a theory. It's a proven practice that I have utilized and experienced in my own life time and time again.. 

I'd like to break down the ripple effect. Here's some data to help show you the Ripple Effect in my life.

I have been helping people for as long as I can remember. I have always wanted to show up and make a difference in the world. I have always believed that I could change the world. 

MY CIRCLE OF INFLUENCE

Here is a list of the people that have been part of my circle of influence throughout adulthood. These are not random strangers, but people that I have interacted with consistently on and off throughout my adulthood. (The following numbers are low-balled and on the lowest end of the spectrum to show you the power of the Ripple Effect)

Children Mindfulness, Movement, and Yoga 200 students 

Preschool Teacher 75 students 

Adult Yoga Instructor 200 students 

Life Coaching and Healing Clients 125 clients  

Friends 40 

Family 75 

Acquaintances/Peers (This includes co-workers, fellow business owners, yogis, healers etc…) 100

200+75+200+125+40+75+100 = 815

That means that I have had a continuous influence (influence meaning vibrational effect) on almost 1,000 people!

So when people say it doesn’t matter that is 100% NOT TRUE. It absolutely does matter.

COACHING PRACTICE

RIPPLE EFFECT PRACTICE:

1. Write out a list of the people in your circle of influence. Who are the people that you spend the most time with in your life including family, friends, co-workers etc…

2. Then write out how you influence them? What kind of energy do you bring to your family, friends, co-workers on a consistent basis?

3. What kind of energy do you WANT to share with the people around you? How do you want to energetically show up and influence others? What vibes do you want people to feel from you? 

4. Put this into practice. Write out what you will think, say and do to show up the way you want to with the people around you.

5. Accountability - feel free to email me with any questions or to share your next steps (shanna@empoweredforever.com)

   
   

   

   I think the most powerful part about the Ripple Effect is it is applicable to EVERYBODY. It doesn't matter your income, relationship status, career, or location. Every single person will encounter thousands of people in their lifetime. What sort of impact are you leaving on the people you meet? 

   I am this regular everyday person! I do not have millions of dollars, I have multiple chronic illnesses, I have a GED not a high school Diploma and I made less than $40,000 a year throughout my entire 20’s!!! 

   This just goes to show you that if I can do this practice, anyone can do this practice.