Changing the World with Optimism in Mind

Ghandi's Top 10 Fundamentals for Changing the World

Change Yourself: As a developing leader this has been very important for me. I always emphasize the importance of role models and to improve the world we must change ourselves to show others the way we ought to be. Many times we forget how much influence we have on the lives of others around us and it is important that we keep that in mind when making decisions or acting a certain way.

You are in control: This point was helpful for me because too many times I forget that I control the way I respond to situations. I have to remember to think before I allow myself to get upset or stressed about something.

Forgive and let it go: I have never been the type to hold grudges but this point was still a good one. as mentioned in the post we must forgive people because if we do not it only holds us back and prevents us from gaining all that we can from life.

Without action you aren't going anywhere: I feel that with everything we say we must back it up with an action or else our cause is futile.

Take care of this moment: We must not be too worried about the future or mistakes we made in the past because it keeps us from the joys of the present.

Everyone is human: This is important to remember because if we expect too much from people it can be a great, stressful burden on them. We must keep in mind that all people are subject to mistakes and we have to love them anyway.

Persist: The point made in this fundamental is important for leadership. As touched upon in the post, many of us do not get the things we want because we give up too soon. It's imperative that leaders posses this attribute because they must be determined to achieve both personal and collective goals even when it gets rough.

See the good in people and help them: After reading this tip my eyes were opened. Looking for the good in people is been something I rarely do. Although I do not intentionally focus on the bad, I do not necessarily look at the good either. I am glad that the author brought up the point that seeing good in others help us to be more willing to help them, which is good for growth.

Be congruent, be authentic, be your true self: This point focuses on being aligned in every aspect possible. Being consistent in your feelings, thoughts, and actions is key to functioning with others.

Continue to grow and evolve: This final fundamental is something I value, growth and development. I have noticed that development is a process that can only be initiated by the individual. We all have no choice but to physically grow (in height, age etc.) but to evolve as an entity is a choice. As a leader I am always willing to help others grow and I hope to inspire with my everyday actions.


Be Optimistic, it Builds Your Self-Confidence

The Optimist Creed has many valid points that I think are important to remember. One of my favorite points from the "Promise Yourself" section it was:

"To think only of the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best." 

I notice a lot of people in my life who tend to settle for less than the best. It hurts me to see that they do not recognize their worth. If we were to all give our best and only accept excellence we could live more fulfilling lives. As a leader it is important to me that everyone reaches their pinnacles and to ensure that happens I will encourage them and help them become aware of their value.


These articles were great reads with many nuggets that I will continue to apply in life! On a more personal note, my e-portfolio is going pretty well. I now know what I need to do for it, so all there is to do is to add the material because I have a template made and my blog embedded into it. I am sadden that STARS LEAD is coming to an end soon. I am going to miss our weekly meetings and everyone from the group. Luckily, in the fall semester I will still be involved with STARS by being a mentor for the program. I am excited about the opportunity and I can not wait to begin!

Truths and Ways to Live

18 Truths to Start Telling Yourself: http://www.marcandangel.com/2012/03/22/18-truths-to-start-telling-yourself/

"5. My actions and words directly affect the lives around me. – Lead by example...People watch what you do more than they listen to what you say.  Inspire, challenge and encourage people to their best, by doing YOUR best.  And when someone else is doing a great job, tell them that you’re proud of them...recognize their effort."

This truth is basis of every thing I do. From past experience I noticed that there were very few people in my community that I could look up to. Extremely saddened by this fact, I decided that I would be the role model that I once longed for. A role model for someone else who needs inspiration. Its imperative that we have leaders in our communities that not only tell others what is important but who are epitomes of that very thing they emphasize. As the blog mentions, people look at actions more than they listen to words. When dealing with children I would argue that words account for a small percentage of influence on behavior. At a young age it can be difficult to internalize words because the physical is more influential.

So if we as leaders want to show the importance of education, we can not do so by simply saying "School is important." We must go to school and earn degrees our selves. In our homes we must show our children (brothers-sisters/nieces-nephews etc.) that we value education by helping them study, complete assignments, and read books. As the fifth truth mentions, we must praise students when they do well. If we do things such as these by being great role models, I believe we can fix many societal problems.


15 Ways to Live, and Not Merely Exist: http://www.marcandangel.com/2012/03/19/15-ways-to-live-and-not-merely-exist/

"8. Recognize those who love you. – The most memorable people in your life will be the ones who loved you when you weren’t very loveable.  Pay attention to who these people are in your life, and love them back, even when they aren’t acting loveable.

12. Leave enough time for fun. – Sometimes you need to take a few steps back to see things clearly.  Never let your life become so filled with work, your mind become so crammed with worry, or your heart become so jammed with old hurts or anger, that there’s no room left in them for fun, for awe, or for joy."

I believe that these two tips on how to live are important things that many of us tend to ignore. I noticed that many (not all) people who have demanding jobs and busy school schedules tend to forget to have fun. From personal experience, I would forgo going out with friends and fun school events because of my school work. I would always be bogged down with work and studying. Many times I would neglect family and friends. It was not that I did not want to spend time with them, I was just so focused on doing well academically that I failed to do so. But now I understand that school is a priority but my family and friends are as well. My ability to balance school and family has improved substantially, but there is still room for growth.

Last Friday's session was great! It felt good to be relaxed with the STARS LEAD group, to wind down from the week. Thee capstone video project is coming along, we shot everyone's scene over the past few weeks and then comes the editing process. I am excited to see the finished product!