Influencing the World

Most of us go about our days thinking that what we do and say and think is of little consequence. After all, we are just one little person in the billions of people that fill the world and we aren’t even anyone important. What we do doesn’t make news. But President David O. McKay taught that “Man radiates what he is, and that radiation affects to a greater or lesser degree every person who comes within that radiation.” In another talk he defines this radiation by saying that “Man’s unconscious influence is the silent, subtle radiation of personality—the effect of his words and his actions on others.  This radiation is tremendous.   
Every moment of life man is changing, to a degree, the life of the  

whole world.”

Edward Lorenz, a famous meteorologist, says that the reason it is impossible to make long-range weather predictions is because there are so many variables.   

“A Brazilian butterfly beating its wings in Brazil has an effect on air movements which together with other currents affects the weather in Texas.”       

What we learn from this is that we do make a difference in the world. Try an experiment today. Go out of your way to thank or give compliments to five people you usually wouldn’t and watch what happens. Tell someone whose efforts you usually take for granted such as a grocery store checker or bagger what a good job they are doing. Point out to someone how much you appreciate their smile. Or call someone just to tell them how they have influenced you for good. Do this five times today and notice how it affects
the radiation you have and watch the joy spread to others.

You influence the world. 

Use that influence for good today!