Ways You Can Make a Difference in Someone's Life
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We can all remember those special people who have made a difference in our lives. Maybe it was a beloved teacher who saw value in your work or introduced you to a whole new field to become passionate about. Maybe it was a parent or relative who always seemed to be there for you when it mattered most. Or maybe it was someone in your community who impacted your life in positive ways they may not even be aware of.
You may find yourself wondering, “Am I making a difference in someone's life?” The answer here is that if you aren’t already, you can be. Once you know how to make a difference, you can become that catalyst in someone else’s life that helps them out of a hard spot, brightens their day, and inspires them to improve their life.
Can We Make a Difference?
One of the big, looking, existential questions out there, is “Am I making a difference?” We are all looking for purpose in our lives, and sometimes, the easiest way to find it is to stop focusing so much on ourselves, and instead let our gaze extend to the people and things around us.
In order to make a difference, we must look beyond the confines of our lives, and begin to recognize the needs of others around us. In doing this, we will become more sensitive to the journeys of those around us. Being aware is just the first step in making a difference in someone’s life.
Ways to Make a Difference in Someone’s Life
There are countless ways to make a difference in someone’s life, but most can be sorted into the seven categories below. You don’t have to do something monumental to make a difference in someone’s life. To the contrary, even the smallest of actions can improve someone’s day in ways you may not even realize.
Smile
Smiling seems so simple, but it can really have an impact on someone’s day. It’s not just about smiling at someone, though. It’s about taking a moment to take another person in, really see them, and have a moment of connection.
For some, that simple act of being seen, can change the trajectory of their entire day. Being seen and validated by a person can push one forward, reminding someone that they matter in this world. Taking just that small, split second to smile at someone else says, “I know you. I see you. I appreciate you.” Something so seemingly simple can have a tremendous impact on someone’s day.
Active Listening
People want to feel heard. Being heard and understood is essential to validating who someone is as a person, and what they are feeling and experiencing in their life. Active listening shows you hear them. It gives them the floor to talk about whatever is of importance to them, while you provide reassurance that you are paying attention, without interrupting and taking over the conversation.
Practicing active listening shows that you are engaged, paying attention, and respecting the other person as they talk through whatever it is they are willing to share with you.
Empathy
Showing empathy is essential in making another person feel valued, understood, and that they aren’t alone. Empathy comes easier to some than others, but it is something that can be developed and improved upon over time.
Having empathy means you’re able to understand and share the feelings that someone else is experiencing. If this doesn’t come naturally to you, try to visualize putting yourself into the other person’s shoes. What must it be like to be them right now? Picture how their current situation might make you feel. Use that to better understand where the other person might be coming from, and to identify ways you can help and make a difference.
Acts of Kindness
One small act of kindness can go a long way. The best part about executing an act of kindness is that you never know how far your actions will reach. It’s like throwing a stone into a lake or pond. Your one small action of throwing the stone has set up a series of reactions – the ripples – that continue to impact the surrounding area, ever expanding.
One small, good deed or act of kindness can have a similar ripple impact. Approaching each day and the people you encounter in it with an attitude of kindness and generosity puts good vibes out into the Universe, and the people you interact with can feel this.
Treating them kindly can help elevate their mood and inspire them to treat others with kindness throughout their day. This can create a chain reaction, and before you know it, your simple act of kindness may have inspired countless people to pass it on and act kindly, as well.
Donate to Charity
To make a more concrete, visible impact, consider donating to a charity or charities that are important to you. Research areas of need in your community and find charities that address these. Once you’ve identified the charity you’d like to support, decide how you’d like to donate to support them. Most charities accept financial donations, as well as donations of furniture, clothing, materials that support the program, or even vehicles. Next time you’re spring cleaning, consider donating any discarded items that are in good condition to your local charity, rather than exiling them to a dump or landfill.
Volunteer
One of the most valuable things you can donate to make a difference is your time. Reach out to charities in your area to see how you might be able to lend your time to help make a difference. Or reach out to community leaders to see if there might be any individuals in your town or neighborhood that might need individual help.
Volunteer opportunities can range from in-person, hands-on work, like visiting homebound seniors or helping in an after-school program, to behind-the-scenes work, like organizing a database, sending campaign emails, or organizing a food pantry. Choose something that you will feel comfortable doing and run with it.
Mentoring
A powerful way to have a profound impact on someone’s life is through mentoring. Becoming a mentor allows you to pass your hard-earned knowledge down to someone who is trying to accomplish something you’ve already succeeded at.
It’s a wonderful way to “pay it forward” and help the next generation rise up through the ranks of success. The personal nature of a mentorship can change a mentee's life forever.
How to Overcome Challenges to Make a Long-Term Impact
Sometimes, we need to overcome our own challenges and hang-ups before we can focus on anyone else. This is one of the many reasons people choose to hire a life coach like Jonette Dyer. While coaching and therapy aren’t the same, both can serve a purpose when working through personal roadblocks preventing you from making a difference.
Through her
personal coaching services,
Jonette Dyer has successfully helped countless people work past their obstacles and challenges to improve not only their life, but the lives of those around them.
By using techniques like learning to live your core values and identifying personal goals, Jonette works with you to better understand and serve yourself, so that you can better understand and serve others. Contact Jonette today to start your journey.
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