HOW DO WE HELP TO

MAKE THINGS
BETTER
IN OUR SOCIETY?
 POSITIONING ONE’S SELF IN THE SOCIETY
 
In a world where individualism and depression (and general dissatisfaction) are rife –
how do we assess our importance to the way things are? Or more importantly, how do
we help to make things better.
The truth is that, whilst it is nice to pontificate on how things should be and what other
people should be doing to improve the common good, the only way we can make a
positive difference is by concentrating on our own contribution and relationships.

We live in a culture where to be popular or famous is akin to a new form of power.

Respect and notoriety (two often mutually exclusive features) lend importance and
significance to what you say. No matter how daft the things you say seem, the
important thing is that you are saying them and someone seems to be listening.
 But also we seem to have lost the ability to respect and recognize the
contribution of those around us – particularly if there is nothing in it for us
on a surface level. How many of you say good morning to the cleaners
when you come in early or stay late at the office? How many of you ask
the person making your sandwich at the deli counter how they are doing?
How many of us bother ourselves to acknowledge a person lying destitute
in the street?
 WHAT DO WE VALUE IN LIFE? WHAT HAS REAL IMPORTANCE AND MEANING?

You might see yourself as a low-achiever or complete failure, but you don’t see the
contribution you might actually make on the micro level. The unforeseeable forces of
positivity may seem like a small drop in the ocean when analyzed individually, but
remember when you put many water droplets together you can turn a waterwheel.
When it’s said that people should know their place in the world, it is often meant
detrimentally or to reinforce feelings of deference – but actually we need to recognize
that for any society, organization or business to function properly then it needs people
with a wide range of different roles and skill-sets. For example, for a Formula 1 car to
win a race, it needs a small team of individuals with specialist skills all working
together – it needs mechanics, engineers, race directors and a driver. There is no
room for ego. If there were 12 people fighting over who was going to drive the car, it
wouldn’t even get on the grid.

 
We need to assume responsibility for our own actions and think whether these are
likely to have a positive effect on those around us, but we can’t all be the hero of the
hour – often the greatest heroes are those whose work goes unseen.
The common good is a funny thing. Unquantifiable and invisible much of the time, but
it doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. We need to stop thinking about selfies and start
thinking about being selfless. If your meaning of life puts your wellbeing at the center
and totally disregards the welfare of others, then no wonder so many people are
unhappy
ACTIVITY (ASSIGNMENT)
INSTRUCTIONS:
Now that we are in the quarantine period, write down at least 20
“practical” contributions (10 for your family, 10 for the community) to
ease the burden of facing the effects of covid 19. Follow the format
below
1)___
2)___
3)___
4)___etc.