Gandhi’s top 10 rules for changing the world

We tend to think that change happens outside of ourselves and that it’s the government’s, our family’s, our community’s fault that our lives are the way they are right now.

That couldn’t be further from the truth, but we don’t always like to hear that.

The truth is that we have the power inside of us to change our lives, but we must first be willing to see that truth.

Gandhi offers 10 fundamental truths for changing the world, and they all start on the inside of us.

1) Change Yourself First

Stop getting angry at the actions of other people. If you want to impact change in the world, change yourself first.

By becoming the best version of yourself, you can impact others by showing up as who you were meant to be.

2) You Are the Driving Force in Your Life

Rather than sit around and wait for things to happen for you, go out and start making things happen for yourself.

If you want to move across the country, or if you want to get a better job, do it now.

We only have so much time on this earth and everyone knows the universe isn’t going to shift for you. You need to shift it for yourself.

3) Forgive

Don’t carry around anger and old regrets. Forgive people – not for them – but for yourself.

When you let go of your expectations of others, you’ll find yourself happier and more productive.

4) Results Require Action

If you want to change anything in your life, you are going to have to work for it.

Affirmations are great, but they don’t move you. Your body needs to be in motion in order to see real results.

5) Pay Attention to the Here and Now

Don’t get caught up in the “what if” of life. Do things that feel good in the moment and that bring you peace.

Don’t worry about things that haven’t come to pass yet. Focus on how to make this moment memorable.

6) We Are All Human

Don’t forget that you are one in billions. You are incredibly special, but you are still human. You’ll make mistakes, and so will everyone else.

Accept that you are only human and allow yourself to make the mistakes you need to on your journey to where you are going.

7) Keep Pushing Forward

No matter how many times you fall down, get up. The more times you get up, the longer you will stay up.

8) Work to See the Good in People

Don’t count someone out just because of something they said or did to you. Look for their humanity – they, too, are human – and they, too, will make mistakes.

9) Show Up as Yourself

Regardless of what is going on around you, always bring your best self to the table. Work to be a better version of yourself every day and you’ll feel comfortable in your own skin.

10) Be Open to Growing as a Person

A beautiful thing about being human is our insatiable ability to learn. We learn from the second we are born until we die. We learn something new every day.

Revel in that truth and push yourself to learn as much as you can while you are still here on this earth.

There has never been a better time to be alive, but we need to make the most of our time and our planet.

When we work to change ourselves, that change can impact the world around us in ways that we can’t even imagine.

By taking responsibility for our own lives, we will encourage others to do the same. Rather than forcing change on others to suit our needs, consider how we can show up different.

How can we react differently than we did yesterday? How can we forgive and move on so that we don’t waste our lives focusing on the wrong things?

Following these 10 fundamentals from Gandhi can help you set your life on a path of change that can have profound impact on your life, and the lives of those around you.

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