When there is chaos all around – climate change issues, war, humanitarian disasters, tensions and what not – it is common to want to assist. To help save the world. I feel that a lot of people are becoming more and more conscious, looking for purpose, wanting to do good.
This is amazing but let me share a few pointers. It is honorable that more and more people want to help save the world. But to do so you need to “put your own oxygen mask on first before assisting others” But on the contrary, quite a lot of people are running around feeling lost, in panic mode, or stressed out, because they “need to do something” not even knowing what that “something” is.
My advice is to just stop for a moment and take a deep breath. We can all make the world a better place through both small and big actions. But to be able to save the world in the long run, you need to be energized. You need to think about incorporating sustainability in your own life first.
I heard a quote a few weeks back that really stuck with me. “You can’t pour from empty buckets.” Should you save the world randomly, or are you going to get an education, build a network, start healthy habits? So that you can make loads of money. That will give you freedom. Freedom to start an NGO, engage in social work, or to start yet another company, but in the sustainable field rather.
What do you need to feel loved, supported and energized? Because giving to others without having identified your own energy power source will ultimately end up draining you. Then who’s going to save the world?
The bottom line is to build structures into your life. The currency by which we operate can vary, it could be energy, time, or money. And it is OK if it takes time to get there. Feel no shame in building YOU. Feel no shame if you don’t bend over backwards trying to please everybody else. Take a deep breath, focus on your own basic needs first. And when you are in a protected, happy place, energy tank fully fueled up – then let’s go to action!
I promise you, you will be able to assist way more people, and able to work more tirelessly in a structured way with whatever you are passionate about.
