Action Not Inaction: What Could You Do To Make A Difference In The World?

Action, not inaction.

These are the three words we want you to take from this article today, because the fact is this; complacency and apathy affect too many of us, and despite the problems in the world, be they local or international, we do nothing about them. "If they don't impinge on my life, why should I?" is the attitude of many. Of course, there are sometimes reasons why we don't get involved in something bigger than ourselves. We might feel small and insignificant, for example, and as one person, we might assume the problems around us are too much to take on. And this is fair; we don't have the powers of Wonder Woman or Captain Marvel. We might not be in a position of power. So, to take action when our resources are small might be seemingly out of the question.

But here are some other words we want you to take away today.

One person can make a difference.

Look at certain people in history, and how they took action despite odds seemingly stacked against them. Emmeline Pankhurst formed the Suffragettes movement and secured women's right to vote. Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a bus and by doing so, paved the way for the Civil Rights movement. And there are other notable examples here. These are ordinary people who did something extraordinary; people not completely unlike me or you.

But then let's not only look in the history books at those people who have become famous over time. Making a difference is not only about creating world-changing events, albeit unknowingly in some cases. It's also about doing something to help the lives of individuals, including the people around us. Think about the people who have helped you in your life. Perhaps a teacher said something to influence your life when you were at school. A neighbour may have helped you with something at home. A stranger may have smiled at you on the bus. In both large and small ways, another person may have made a difference to your life in the short or long-term. In short, they did something rather than nothing, and you felt the rewards.

So, what about you? What could you do? You can make a difference in the world; you need only open your eyes and ears and then actively do something. It might be for an individual. It could be something for your community. Or it might be something that creates a greater impact on a larger scale.

Where to start then? Well, here are some ideas to get you thinking.

Pay attention to what is going on in the world

You will have more power when you know what is going on both locally and globally, so don't switch off the news because it depresses you and makes you feel sad, and don't ignore every charity fundraiser in the street, because you might just learn something useful. Not every issue will stir you into action, but there might be those that do, so before following our next point, do something to educate yourself on what is happening in the lives of people here and abroad.

Think about the issues you are passionate about

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You can't do everything. As we suggested, as amazing as you are, you're not Wonder Woman or the Prime Minister (we are assuming), so you might want to narrow down your areas of concern. Think about the issues that get your blood boiling; the local or global problems that make you shout at the injustices in the world when you learn about them on the television or in your newspaper. It might be the gender pay gap, the plight of the homeless, or issues affecting refugees. Make a note of these things in a journal, and consider how you might be able to do something about the problem. You could petition your local government, for example, or volunteer some of your time to work with the homeless in your area. Research possible avenues you could take, and then plan a course of action to do something, no matter how small. At least you will be doing something rather than nothing.

Get together with others

You don't need to be alone when taking action against the world's injustices, as there are bound to be other people who share your concerns. Find these people, buddy up with them, and rally further support together. There might be community groups working for a particular cause, for example, so show your solidarity by working with them to do something. Then there are the call-to-action events hosted on International Women's Day, which strive to improve gender balance around the world. Get yourself along to next year's events which will be happening on or just after the 8th of March. Go online too and join social media groups that fight to protect the rights of others, and look for any internet forums that support the causes you have become impassioned about. And talk to your family and friends. You might be able to rally them into action too, so get them on your side and talk about what you could do together to help a local or international cause or charity.

Vote!

It only takes a moment of your time, but your vote could mean the difference to what is happening in your local community. We realise the apathy you might have towards politics, especially when you can't be sure who to trust. But be thankful for Emmeline Pankhurst who fought for the right to give you the vote, and as discussed in this article by Smartmatic, be aware that unlike in this country, not everybody experiences the fair voting processes that we are accustomed too. The least you can do then is share your vote because you do have the privilege and the fairer processes allowing you to do so. Consider the people standing up for election in your area, and take note of the changes that they promise to make. If any of them strike a nerve with you, perhaps because they vow to stand up for something that reflects your concern, do the right thing and cast your vote.

Do something for a local charity

Think about the charities in your area, and contact any that reflect the concerns you share. For some, you may be able to volunteer your time, perhaps by visiting unwell children in hospital, working at a food bank, or having a cup of tea with an elderly person. Especially when working up close and personal with a person in need, your smile, kind word, and charitable gesture, might not only make their day but might also give them the impetus to show kindness to other people around them. What you do then might have a ripple effect; a sort of 'pay it forward.' Other than volunteering your time, you might also donate money to the causes you consider worthwhile, or you might actively fundraise for the charities you care about. Check out the following list of charities in Ireland as examples, or do a Google search for any that are closer to your locale. Your help will be greatly appreciated.

Raise your voice

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You have a voice, so use it! Attend local government meetings and stand up in front of your peer and politicians to air your concerns. If you notice injustice at your child's school, in the street, or in your workplace, provided you feel safe to do, stand up and say something. Pick up the phone and share your concerns to local or national media news organisations. And as well as raising your voice verbally, do the same online. Write blog posts about those issues that concern you. Email your MP and let them know about the issues you are interested in. Share your voice across your social media channels, and gather others to the causes you're fighting for. Sitting quietly in the corner won't help your cause or incense others into action, so speak out as loudly and as boldly as you are able.

Be a Good Samaritan

Don't be that person who walks on by and does nothing to help another. If you find yourself in a situation where you can help, do something. As we suggested at the beginning, take action and don't consider inaction. Buy a sandwich for a homeless person, offer to help a stressed-out mom at the supermarket, stick up for somebody who is being bullied, and lend a hand to a neighbour in need. Wherever you are today, and whatever the need of the people you meet along the way, stop and help if it's practical and safe to do so because you might be the only person who does so today.

And so…

One person can make a difference, and today that person could be you. Whether you stop to help a stranger, volunteer for a local charity, give your money to a worthy cause or stand up for an issue of global concern, know that your action is better than inaction. No matter how small your action, you can and will make a difference to the lives of others. So, think. What could you do to make a difference in the world? The answer in its general form should be something rather than nothing!

Take care, and thanks for reading!