Week Fifty-Seven: Bringing More Good Into the World

In a conversation earlier this week, a colleague mentioned the importance of bringing more good into the world – in ways large or small. That got me to thinking about all the many ways in which we have opportunities each day to contribute something good to the world around us. I thought about how I have made it an ongoing spiritual practice not to gossip. I decided to do this a number of years ago, and actually succeed at it a good bit of the time. It has become one of the small ways in which I feel I can contribute to the good in the world in an ongoing way. It’s not a contribution anyone will see, but I know that it makes a difference to the person being talked about not to have more fuel added to the fire of gossip.

A friend of mine contributes good to the world in more tangible ways all the time. When she knows someone is lonely or in need, she makes sure to call them, or to invite them out. This same friend makes it a practice to send notes and cards to some of her elderly relatives and far-away friends so they will have a surprise in the mail from time to time. Yet another friend knows that she is contributing good to the world by raising children who understand compassion and kindness.

And so, for this week’s experiment, I invite you to take a look at how you contribute good to the world, to discover the ways in which you add to the supply of good. These may be obvious ways – as when you donate clothing to the homeless or give money to charitable organizations, or when you take the time to say something kind about or to someone who is struggling or lonely. Or, they may be subtle ways only you will know about, as when you wish the world well, think about peace, or in some other way add some goodness from within your own thoughts and feelings.

As with all the experiments, enjoy playing with this one. Be curious about what you notice in the quality of your daily life when you hold the possibility of adding in just a bit of good to the world each day.

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