So much of life seems like a merry-go-round. We put in so much effort and go nowhere. If only there were a way to make your actions count.
Maybe there is… and maybe it’s easier than we realize.
The Job from Hell
There are some pretty horrible jobs out there. Some have terrible bosses. Some have horrible conditions. Others include tasks that are either brutal or mind-numbingly boring.
And some, like a job I had several years ago, make you think of Sisyphus, the fabled man cursed for eternity to roll a boulder up a hill that would roll back whenever it reached the top.
I was asked to spend weeks and even months on projects for my manager to provide him all the information he needed to start projects. Then, quite often he would tell me that we were no longer interested in the project and give me something else to do. He told me this was our lot in life. It was the hand we were dealt.
I don’t know about you, but it’s hard to do work you don’t really enjoy when there’s no point in it. At least with most jobs if you don’t like the work, you can find comfort in the knowledge your actions helped someone and improved their lives. Me – I just felt like Sisyphus and his dumb ass rock.
In life we want what we do to mean something. We want to be a part of something bigger than ourselves. If you want to know a surefire way to make your actions count, this is for you.
No Matter How Small
The Greek storyteller Aesop was credited with a great many fables that have been passed down from century to century. From the story of The Ant and the Grasshopper to The Fox and the Grapes to The Boy Who Cried Wolf to scores more, these fables have been a classic part of most people’s lives.
There’s one quote attributed to Aesop that shows one sure way to make your actions count: “no act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.”
If you want to make your mark on the world, be kind. If you want to change the world, be kind. If you want to do something that won’t be worthless, be kind.
That’s the simple way to make your actions count and even be better than you were yesterday. Now is the perfect time to spend some time to focus on something kind you can do for someone today. Take a second and make your plan. Add some extra kindness to your day.
