4 Simple Ways to Change the World Today by Steve Austin

By Steve Austin
I'm the worst at always focusing on the next thing instead of what's right in front of me. It's so hard for me to live in the now, when I've always got the next thing cooking. Add to that the fact that my email inbox is constantly filled with how-to's from successful experts I want to be just like. I read their emails and immediately get overwhelmed by all the "amazing things" I'm not yet doing. So what do you do when you want to change the whole world in an instant but you have days when you feel like you can't keep up? You confess that craziness to a friend. Because, seriously, that is crazy. I have people who love me enough to tell me to put the brakes on.
 
 
 
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I'm the worst at always focusing on the next thing instead of what's right in front of me. It's so hard for me to live in the now, when I've always got the next thing cooking.
 
Add to that the fact that my email inbox is constantly filled with how-to's from successful experts I want to be just like. I read their emails and immediately get overwhelmed by all the "amazing things" I'm not yet doing.
 
So what do you do when you want to change the whole world in an instant but you have days when you feel like you can't keep up? You confess that craziness to a friend. Because, seriously, that is crazy.
 
I have people who love me enough to tell me to put the brakes on. Those who will pull me back from the ledge. And once I take a deep breath, stop hating myself for my own inadequacy, and start listening to the truth about myself, I am able to see that the world has been spinning on its axis for eons without my help.
 
So, what do I do when I want to change the world but I'm feeling completely overwhelmed?
 
I stop.
 
Here's the Unfortunate Truth:
 
I cannot reach every suicidal person today.
I cannot save every porn addict tonight.
I cannot swoop in and snap my fingers and rescue every victim of abuse.
 
You want to change the world? You don't need much. Not a ministry degree, or even any special gifts. God has enabled every seemingly ordinary person on the planet to do extraordinary things.
 
Here's 4 Simple Ways I can Change the World Today:
  • By being the best husband I can be.
I change the world – the world around me, and the world including me – each time I stop whatever I am doing and give my wife the attention she craves. The attention she deserves. The attention I promised to give her nearly 10 years ago when we exchanged rings.
 
I can afford a babysitter this Friday night so I can take her on a real date. I can send her flowers at work for no specific reason at all. I can surprise her with her favorite bottle of wine when I come home from the grocery store.
  • By being the best parent I can be.
I can love my kids. I can put the phone down and pick up a Rescue Bot. I can set the iPad to the side and brush my little girl's hair. I can put her in the stroller and take a walk around the block. I can actively love my children. And create memories with them. I can create the legacy of a dad who chooses to be a father before he ever considers being a world changer.
 
That's how I change the world, friends. Because that's all my kids are looking for: a dad.
  • By being the best friend I can be.
All my friends are looking for is a guy who will look them in the eyes while they're talking. Or listen to them confess their mess and just say, "I get it. And I'm sorry." They aren't looking for me to show up on their balconies, with my cape flapping in the wind and a capital "S" on my shirt.
 
I change the world with each intentional step I take to connect with the person in front of me. By choosing to respond with encouragement, honesty, and vulnerability to those in my circle, I have a chance to change the world. My world.
  • By learning to love the life I have.
As a writer, I can become consumed with stats and metrics and reports and all the things I'm not yet doing. But focusing on the negative doesn't help me or anyone else. When I choose to focus on who I am instead of what I do, I give myself a little love and some grace. And don't we all need that?
 
So how do ordinary people do extraordinary things? Start simple. Start with love. Love goes a long way. What you love is valuable and you value what you love. Love is the catalyst for changing the World.
 
Steve Austin
 

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At one point, I was a youth pastor, professional sign language interpreter, wedding photographer, radio host, husband, and father - in that order. As an interpreter, I worked full-time in a public school, including all of my student's after-school activities. My radio show consumed Tuesday and Friday nights. Wednesday nights and all day Sunday were eaten up by church functions, and Saturdays were spent photographing weddings, with youth group activities, or both. Long days and late nights were the norm. People wondered how I could keep so many plates spinning. In my religious fervor, I judged their lack of busyness. My wife pleaded for attention, my friends constantly complained that I was MIA, and my anxiety was through the roof.