Have you ever wondered if your presence on this planet truly makes a difference in the lives of others? I’ve asked myself this question many times: Am I really making a difference?
Recently, I came across a beautiful quote:
“What makes you different, makes you beautiful.”
Unfortunately, society doesn’t always support this uniqueness. In school, we are all “made the same.” In university, we are all “made the same.” And in our jobs, the boss often expects us to do things the way they’ve always been done. So how is our true beauty supposed to shine? Where can we show who we really are?
During a workshop with Neale Donald Walsch, the author of Conversations with God, I heard him say: “Anthropologists have found that a person has around 25,000 encounters with others throughout their lifetime. Of course, the number can be higher depending on a person’s visibility. But on average, we meet about 25,000 people in our lifetime—while shopping, at the airport, and everywhere we go.”
That means we have at least 25,000 opportunities to enrich someone else’s life. But how can we do that if we simply walk past people while shopping?
Have you ever been in a room when a truly charismatic person walked in? They didn’t have to say or do anything, yet everyone naturally turned to look at them. What if you used your uniqueness—the qualities that make you special—to shine? It could be your inner glow, your sense of style, your smile, or your joyful energy. What is something simple that you can share with others, even if you only pass them briefly on the street? Can you do something to brighten someone’s day, even just for a moment?
I put this idea to the test on our cruise. On the very first evening, I smiled at everyone as if I had just won the lottery. Some people were visibly uncomfortable with it. Others didn’t react at all. But my goal wasn’t to get a reaction—it was simply to put positive energy into the world.
Wouldn’t you like to be part of the solution rather than part of the problem?
Many people can focus on the negative, but only a few truly radiate positivity. What is your unique gift that makes you even more beautiful? Share it joyfully and as often as you can. Because if you impact even just 10% of those 25,000 people, that means 2,500 people will carry your message forward and perhaps do the same in their own circles. And that’s how a ripple effect begins—a wave of positive change from the inside out.
Are you in?
I hope you enjoy shining your light.
