I know a lot of people who once wanted to save the world.
But then they gave up.
Because, to them, it started to sound rather silly, given the size of the world and all that.
NO!
It’s not silly.
In fact, it actually IS possible. You just have to know exactly what you mean when you say “I want to save the world.”
Let’s break it down.
What do you mean by “I”? Do you mean you? Or do you want someone else to do it for you? (Wink.) Do you need a team, or will you do it yourself?
What do you mean by “want”? Do you really want to? Is it something that really and truly matters to you? Why? And if not, why not?
What do you mean by “save”? Do you mean to make the world perfect somehow? Is saving the world synonymous with “world peace”? (‘Cause that goal is just way too big to do all by yourself, right?) What do you mean by ‘save’, exactly? What’s important to you? What’s actually doable, for you?
What do you mean by “world”? Ah, this is where it got interesting for me. When I thought about the entire world–the planet Earth–I became overwhelmed. How could I save the starving children in Africa, stop the bombings in the Middle East, convince the drug addicts to get clean, show women how to take back their power, be a kind and loving mom to my four precious children, live up to the wedding vows I made with Thurston Howell the Fourth (not his real name but he does call me “Lovey” –how cute is that?), feed my dog twice a day, call my amazing mom, AND pull off a downward facing dog that was the envy of dogs everywhere? (High expectations much?)
I almost gave up. Naturally. That kind of “saving the world” only leads to upward facing dog.
Except…
I remembered that I get to define everything in my life. Everything. Even if it goes against Other People’s definitions of how things are supposed to be.
This post was inspired by a coaching session with a client who said she could never call herself a “ballerina” because it would be disrespectful to professional ballerinas everywhere.
Hmmmm.
“What’s your definition of a ballerina?” I asked her.
She said, “She’s elegant and beautiful and she moves with grace.”
“Okay… does she live with grace?” I prodded.
“Oh hell no, she’s a train wreck once she gets off the stage.”
“I see. And that’s your definition of a ballerina?”
“Well, yeah, a lot of ballerinas are like that. They live a grueling life.”
“And you want to be that kind of ballerina?”
“Well, when you put it that way, no.”
“So then, let’s re-define what it means to YOU to be a ballerina. And then be that kind of ballerina.”
There was silence for awhile as my client took in what I was saying to her, which was not at all what Other People had been telling her.
(FYI, Other People, despite their good intentions, can be a pain in the ass!)
There are no ballerina police.
I told my client that she could absolutely introduce herself as a ballerina. This utterly horrified her. (Lucky for me we were on Skype because I think she might’ve wanted to throw something at me.)
I was undeterred. I told her that if she were willing to claim her right to call herself a ballerina she could then expect two responses from people: 1) A blank stare or perhaps even a look of disdain. 2) A look of sincere interest in the human being that she was.
So I asked her which of those people she cared about more. That’s when it all began to sink in.
Giving ourselves permission to be whoever we want to be opens up our eyes AND our world.
It attracts people who are genuinely interested in being with us, loving us, working with us, dancing with us.
And it scares everyone else away. That’s a good thing. That’s a very good thing.
Because once you know what YOU mean by “I” (how you define yourself and what matters to you), then you know what you want (i.e., what matters to you, for example, to live with grace, to be kind and compassionate…) and you can then define the word “save” (create, empower, teach, work hard…) and you’ll exactly who is in your world. If you (whether you’re a ballerina or a president or a mom) want to save the world, then do that. Don’t give up. Don’t believe it’s impossible just because your mind chose to think that thought.
Be the ballerina who saves the world by standing up for what she believes in and using that to build a life that has meaning and purpose, and impacts those around her.
That’s how you save the world.
By saving you, first.
Hey Coach! I created a “One Sheet” for Life Coaches. It shows you what you have to do to turn your coaching practice into a badass-to-the-bone business. Check it!
