Universal Truth: We All Have The Power To Change The World

By Oskar Cymerman | @focus2achieve | BAm! Radio Network EdWords Blogger

Change The World

And we do.

Have you ever heard someone say that he or she is not out to change the world? That he or she just wants to contribute in small part; make a difference? I have. I know what people mean when they say that. Such statements come out of modesty and the people making them are commendable. But they are unrealistic. While the person making such claims is humble and honest, he or she does not realize one of the truest laws of the Universe:

Every action we take changes the world.

In more ways than one.

Forever.

I cannot know if Isaac Newton thought about the full implications of what became known as Newton's Third Law of Motion that for every action there is an opposite and equal reaction. I have always struggled with such a narrow view of how objects interact with each other. I understand that Newton only focused on the forces between the two interacting objects, but it has been my experience that things and beings are so deeply interconnected that every action I take has multiple reactions. 

The Ripple Effect Chain Reaction

A ripple effect occurs whenever we do something. What we do affects those around us. They react and their reactions affect those around them. Greater number of people still is affected as a result of these third party reactions. And so an unstoppable chain reaction ensues. 

This phenomenon truly alters our world. This is why I believe that by their very nature people are good. If we weren't, we would have led to our own demise a long time ago. Sure, we often stumble and make mistakes. Sure there are places in the world where human rights are being violated and humans dehumanized. Most places on earth are not like that though and there are always people who work to improve the condition of those oppressed. If Edmund Burke is correct in saying that "the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing," then we must make sure that we take a stand against evil, tyranny, bigotry, racism, and any other false claims of superiority. 

We must do good ourselves, help others do good, and teach our kids to do good. When we do that we truly affect positive change and feel fulfilled.

The Aliens Believe in Us

It would be oblivious not to recognize however, that some actions humans take are so heinous they send ripples that distort the order of the Universe. The media provides an extensive coverage of street crimes, school shootings, and acts of terrorism. In those instances I wish that people watching the news can turn off the tube and remember that for every one of those horrible events there are hundreds of acts of kindness, goodness, and courage being "perpetrated" by the human race.

I also wholeheartedly believe the advanced alien races observing us from far away notice that most humans mean well and that our good deeds far outweigh our transgressions. I mean, being wiped out from existence or mined for resources sounds appealing to no one.

So What Am I Saying Here?

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Teacher and psychologist Haim G. Ginott understood this profound world-changing power we all possess when he said “I’ve come to a frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element in the classroom. It’s my personal approach that creates the climate. It’s my daily mood that makes the weather. As a teacher, I possess a tremendous power to make a child’s life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration. I can humiliate or heal. In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis will be escalated or de-escalated and a child humanized or dehumanized.”

So make the decision to harness all of your power to do good. This is especially important if you are an educator as your actions affect tens, hundreds, even thousands of kids every day. Strive to create a positive climate around you every day. Be the instrument of inspiration to others.

Realize your power to change the world and follow this Universal Truth. When you do, your classroom, the school, and the world will be a better place.

The students and adults around you will be better.

And you will be a superhero.

Thank you for reading! Please share this post with others who might enjoy it. Please sign up for my NEWSLETTER if you would like to receive more articles on social emotional learning and brain-based learning infographics containing tips and strategies that work in helping students become better learners. My next NEWSLETTER will feature a BRAND NEW INFOGRAPHIC on the BRAIN SCIENCE of TEAMWORK and how to MAXIMIZE IT - something you can definitely add to your teaching toolbox! Have an awesome weekend :)

 You Have the Power to Change the World. Use it often.

Small Acts Of Kindness Change The World

By Oskar Cymerman | @focus2achieve | BAm! Radio Network EdWords Blogger

Small Acts Of Kindness Change The World

Small Acts Of Kindness

Small acts of kindness change the world. The grand deeds committed by those with means are important too, but they are not nearly as powerful as the billions of little things little people do every single day to help, recognize, and appreciate others. The longer I walk life the more convinced I am that it is the compound effect of the seemingly insignificant acts that sends the biggest ripples through the universe and alters the world most profoundly.

This morning as I was about to turn onto the expressway I always take to work a woman with two dogs started crossing the street. She hesitated seeing my car come to a halt at the intersection. I could've easily just kept turning, maybe cut her off, or maybe make it just in time, but I did not. I waited. And I am happy I did. It is because of what happened next.

The woman continued walking, looked at me through my windshield, gave me a big smile, and waved. Of course, an involuntary reflex forced a big toothy grin onto my face and I waved back. And it felt damn good!

That quick, seemingly unimportant encounter started my day in such a powerful way. It showed me how easy it can be to connect to another person if you just make the effort, show a little kindness, and take the first step. It also made me think about my interactions with students. Do I take the first step often enough? Do I notice and use all of the opportunities life presents to inject a little kindness and put smiles on the faces of the kids I interact with?

No? Maybe? Yes? Depends? - Whatever the answer is...

I CAN DO BETTER. I WANT TO DO BETTER.

Emma

Emma hated chemistry since pretty much the beginning. I know, because she told me so on more than one occasion before. She wrote things like: I DON’T CARE and GUESS IT’S SUMMER SCHOOL FOR ME in big letters on her tests. She kept insisting that science is not her thing. Being “cursed” with the knowledge of how the brain learns, I kept trying to convince her that she can and she will if she puts the effort in. It was the truth. But it was not what she needed to hear then. She wasn’t ready.

After months of struggling and hating chemistry, Emma is finally coming around and more receptive to me helping. She even came in for help before school on a few occasions. And she asks for help in class too. After one such encounter in class recently, she smiled and said that she actually gets it. I smiled back.

What changed? Was it me commenting on her Nirvana shirt, talking Kurt Cobain, and arguing about which album’s best? Or maybe giving her props on the worn out Led Zeppelin hoodie and asking whether she’s heard that Jimmy Page talked about himself/Led Zep going on tour in 2016? Or that first time she came in for help and said she’s only doing it because I rock out to the Linkin Park/Three Days Grace Pandora station in my room before school starts? Or maybe my constant gentle encouragement while leaving it all up to her? Yes, yes, yes, yes, and yes to all the things that happened and I have not mentioned.

Who Cares?

It took several months and a lot of little seemingly insignificant encounters to go from point A to point Z with Emma.

Isaiah

On April 15, a female student participating in the Day of Silence stopped by my desk after the bell rang and handed me a note saying she wants me to call her Isaiah. A few days later I asked about it and Isaiah told me that his parents make him wear his sister’s clothes to school, but that he is transitioning. I am not sure if he told all of his teachers, but I was happy and honored that he trusted me with this information. I know that he felt safe telling me because of the relationship we’ve built this year connecting with music, me staying patient not being pushy, and saying "Hi" and waving to him every morning.

One At A Time

Kids, especially teens, can be tough to reach. They have lived just long enough to have experienced the best and the worst world has to offer and some are going through things that would crush adults. And while we can’t always know and understand, we can offer them a small act of kindness: a smile, a “Hi Emma,” a conversation and an ear ready to listen, our time.

Little things are BIG, so we must guard against discounting them. Too often, we take them for granted not realizing their power.

So start your day by doing something nice for someone at home, at work, at school. Take the first step with the student who “doesn’t care” and keep giving her small non-threatening nudges repeatedly until she has no choice but to respond to your efforts. Do so until she knows you care so much, without saying so directly, that she lays all her defenses down and lets you help her.

Because everyone cares. Because everyone has feelings.

Put that on the "self" agenda for every class you teach each day. Resolve to be mindful of who your students are. Forget the curriculum and stop to say something nice to a student as he is working on the assignment. Ask another one a question to show you’re interested in what she likes. Go up to the group working in the corner and say something funny. If you’re not the funny type tell them a story about your 2 year old.

Write those things down so you remember.

Then do them.

Change the world.

One small act of kindness at a time.

Thank you for reading! Please share this post with others who might enjoy it. Please sign up for my NEWSLETTER if you would like to receive more articles on social emotional learning and brain-based learning infographics containing tips and strategies that work in helping students become better learners and add to your teaching toolbox.

And Remember: You Have the Power to Change the World. Use it often.

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