This was years ago, when I was in the self-discovery phase of my life. However, that phase of life never really goes away. But this was the first time I realized that I was in fact in the self-discovery phase of my life. A couple of years out of school and hating my job. Yes, I know, typical me.

I think the incident happened after I read a book and a couple of blog post about changing the world and how really possible the plan was to me. I know it started with me and my goal and mission had to be bigger than me. I already knew that I was going to use my blog and start hitting the pavement to get whatever the hell message I wanted others to know about and to get behind.

Why Can’t I Change the World?

But, as my younger brother always seems to do, especially during this time of my life, he pestered me and was quite annoying about what I wanted to do with my life. I told the fucker I didn’t know. I was thinking about it. But as soon as I figured out the thing about changing the world, I had to tell him. So I told him and his friend was there to witness it and how possible it was to in my head. He laughed at me. He looked to his friend and both of them laughed at me. I was shocked and messed up in the head. I got defensive and told him it was possible. I don’t remember all of the words that he told me but it was something like this, “Who cares about changing the world. It will never happen and it is a pipe dream waiting to crash on it’s face. Do what you want to do and don’t worry about the world.” Something like that, but more direct and harsher. I had to stand there holding my own and pretending to be strong and I knew he sensed it.

It Got Me Thinking

I taught about what he said and continued to pursue my “changing the world” mission in life. But I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t get past what my real purpose was here. I didn’t know who the hell I was at the time and I was stopped in my tracks, confused and wanted to destroy my brother for saying those things. What I have realized over time is that when a person is defensive, the words that the other person said were true.

If You Aren’t Changing the World, Then What Am I Doing About It?

So, I gave up the life-long mission of changing the world and started changing myself to the person that I envisioned to be the best possible me. What I have realized over time is that for the most part, people don’t change. People are who they are. People who want better or go through life-changing circumstances do change. Also, trying to get somebody to change is too much work, besides, spending all that time trying to change that person could have been used to change oneself and live your own life. So, whenever somebody is saying that they are changing the world, what they are actually saying is that they are changing themselves and if others see, get inspired, then great, hopefully they use what they see and do something in their lives, if not, oh well.