23 The World Doesn’t Revolve Around You

Much of what’s going on in today’s world makes us focus on ourselves. We’re surrounded by advertisements and media messages that encourage us to be very self-centered and egocentric. We’re supposed to look out for our best own interest, compete with others for the best job, the biggest car, and the nicest house. A life built on consuming, trying to prove your importance with money and spending doesn’t bring you happiness, and has made our world a spiritually poorer place.

When we start to live with purpose, the people around us become more important than acquiring things. Instead of focusing on just ourselves, we focus on our family, our community, and even the world at large. That’s quite a big change in perspective. This perspective shift will come over time. The amazing thing is that it starts happening effortlessly.

By living more purposefully, your focus is on the needs of your loved ones. Maybe it starts with simply paying more attention to your spouse and kids. From there it moves toward your extended family and your circle of friends. Along the way you notice that working with others, helping them out, and doing things for them feels good and brings a lot of joy and happiness. Living a purpose driven life that includes other people who are important to us is a great feeling.

From there it spirals out. As you create more intentional relationships with your kids for example, you get closer to their friends. You also become more empathetic to the needs of other parents and their children. Your focus starts to shift from yourself and your own little family to your local community and eventually the global community we all live in. And that’s a very good thing.

We don’t live in a bubble. We live in a community and in this day and age that community reaches across the entire globe. Our actions, our purchases, and how we choose to live our lives has an impact on everyone else. We can no longer afford to live a self-centered life. Trust me, being part of a community and working together for the betterment of everyone involved is a much better feeling.

By living your life with purpose—you get to see the world from a different perspective. Not only that, you’ll also be setting a good example for your children and other people around you. As they see you care about and help others, they will be inspired to do the same. If you ask me that’s pretty powerful stuff. Your own choice to live with purpose can end up affecting hundreds, if not thousands of others.