When you feel helpless, ask how you can help others.
You may not be able to change the world, but you can help one person with one thing.
Ask for nothing in return except that they do the same for someone else.
Repeat this many times over and you will find that, even if the world has not changed, you have.
By being helpful to others, you will begin to feel more hopeful and less helpless.
We are empowered by action.
A life of service is a life of purpose and meaning.
If you believe there are malevolent forces working against you, but not benevolent forces working for you, the malevolent forces have already won.
Cynicism is lazy.
It’s a means of hiding from your responsibility to make the world better.
Optimism, on the other hand, is a decision to act as if positive change is possible.
And it is a decision you must make day by day, or even hour by hour or moment by moment if necessary.
But do not give in to the idea that malevolence is inevitable.
As long as benevolence exists within you, it exists in the world and there is hope.
Start saying no to things that make you feel bad about yourself.
Do not give away your happiness and self respect to people or activities that detract value from your life.
You have a greater purpose that is not served by playing small.
False humility is not humility.
It is a form of hiding.
No one is served by your pretending to be less than you are.
Protect your peace, follow your joy, and share your gifts.
Life is too short to argue with people over things that do not matter.
Conflict is a necessary and unavoidable part of life.
It forces us to grow and change in ways we otherwise would not.
Unnecessary conflict, however, is a waste of our time and energy and as such, should be avoided or at least not sought out or engaged with.
There are too many worthwhile things to do in this life to spend our time and energy in conflict over that which is trivial and inconsequential.
We should be willing and able to fight for what matters while also prioritizing peace wherever possible.
In the end, we will likely discover that much less mattered than we thought.
Meditations on God 