A project to make the world a better place. Can we make this world a better place?

The world is a big place and there are many opportunities to make the world even bigger amazing place. But sometimes the possibilities become too many. At the same time, there are probably things you haven’t thought about before. If you would like to make the world a better place, but don't know where to start, this article will give you some ideas. useful tips, which will help you benefit the planet and society as a whole. Start reading!

Steps

How to start changing something locally

Become a volunteer. Volunteering for a charity can make the world a better place. You will be able to do good deeds and see the impact it has on the people you help. If you have practical skills or are willing to learn them, they will be very useful (for example, experience in medicine or construction). Try volunteering in the evenings. You can also consider the following options:

teach underprivileged children;
work in a kitchen preparing food for homeless people;
work for charities.

Reduce your exposure to the world. To make the world a better place, you need to limit your negative impact on him. A correct attitude towards the environment will improve its condition and preserve nature for future generations.
- Take your garbage to recycling.
- Reduce the amount of waste you produce and convert organic waste into compost.
- Save water and grow food.
- If you want to benefit your local environment, buy and install solar panels at home and start using public transport, cycling or driving an electric car.
- Increase your positive impact on your environment. Please note that your good mood and well-being is connected with other people and natural environment. Find out how you can improve your mental health in helpful ways.
Be an active citizen(s). Exercise your right to vote. Bad laws and incompetent politicians can have Negative influence on society and environment. If you don't vote, your vote doesn't affect anything, which means bad laws can be passed. Participate in public life city or country by voting and talking to politicians you support. Tell others about important issues.

Make informed decisions about what you buy. When you choose a product, you vote for it with your money. Vote for what suits your beliefs! Don't buy products that harm animals and avoid products made by companies that abuse animals. Whenever possible, buy local products that benefit local people and the local economy. If a manufacturer makes bad decisions that have a negative impact on people, stop buying their products.
- Don't be afraid to contact the manufacturer and explain to them what you are doing and why. Some companies, although not all, take customer opinion into account. They will never know what is expected of them if no one tells them.
Be proud of where you live. Take care of the place where you live. This will save the place not only for you, but also for all local residents. If you have the opportunity to help, take it because not everyone has it. Look for ways to help the environment in your city. Below are some useful ideas:
- Be responsible and take part in community cleanups. Plant trees, clean sidewalks, maintain green areas.
- Don't throw trash on the street. Always look for the right trash can. Pick up trash, even if someone else has thrown it.
How to change something globally
1. Donate money to charity. If you want to help people around the world, it is important to find a charity that does this. It is best to choose an organization that helps people in regions where they need this help most.
  - It is not necessary to donate money. Some non-profit organizations They accept books, clothes and other things. Call or write to them and find out what they need. What some organizations need most is for others to know about their activities. Don't just donate - tell others about the organization.
  - Volunteer or raise money for organizations that do charitable activities Abroad. Participate in a marathon or other fundraiser for an organization. Look for programs that will allow you to fly abroad and volunteer there. Consider other options (for example, help small non-profit foundations and organizations in any way you can).
2. Buy fair trade products. Such goods are produced under humane conditions for the worker (for example, the worker receives fair pay) and is environmentally friendly. By purchasing such products, you are telling manufacturers that you are willing to pay a little more for this approach, and this may encourage manufacturers to change their production practices.
  - It is not uncommon for fair trade products to be labeled as such. If you don't know how a product was produced, at least try not to buy products that are most often produced unethically. Coffee, bananas, cocoa, many tropical fruits, wine (most often from California), clothing (most often from China, Bangladesh, South-East Asia) And Jewelry often produced unethically.
3. Invest money. Often third world countries or low-income groups just need to be given the opportunity to develop. To help such people, you can provide them with small loans for small business development. This model will allow you to get your money back, and small businesses will be able to get the money they need to contribute to their country's economy. Kiva.org allows you to lend money to small businesses run by people in poor countries.
  - This great way help women and other vulnerable groups of people. These funds will help them provide for themselves.
4. Protect the environment. Do something that will help the environment around the world. Try to reduce consumption natural fuel and other types of fuel that cause damage to nature. You can switch to public transport, a bicycle or an electric car. You can use solar energy rather than gas (which is harmful to the environment) to heat your home. You can also eat local foods and use products made in your region to reduce your fuel consumption.
  - Save as much energy as possible. Energy production takes a toll on the planet and often involves burning gases or generating nuclear power. Any energy you save can be used for more important things, resulting in lower energy production. Turn off lights in empty rooms, take less hot showers, use energy-saving light bulbs, don't leave your computer in standby mode, and so on. There are many ways to save energy.
5. Reduce waste. Don't eat more than you need; Don’t buy a bunch of things that you won’t use; don't buy new clothes Every year. Try buying second-hand clothes to reduce waste. Eat healthy, balanced foods with minimum quantity excesses. If you have any leftover food, turn it into compost. It is important to reduce waste before the planet becomes like the Earth from Wall-E.
  - Convert organic waste into compost. Buy or make a large container that can be placed outside, as well as a small one for your home. Collect all food scraps from meals and cooking, as well as organic debris from the garden, and place all waste in a container in the yard. Stir the mixture regularly using a fork or rake. Add soil from time to time. When the mass becomes homogeneous, it can be used as fertilizer.
  - Recycle things in the right way. In many cities it is established separate collection garbage. IN different cities Various things are accepted for recycling, but most often plastic, metal and paper can be collected separately.
6. Protect animals. Since man is the dominant force on the planet, we have a responsibility to protect creatures that cannot protect themselves. Because of the lifestyle we lead, many animals suffer or even die out. There are many ways to help animals and improve their living conditions.
  - Promote and vote for laws that protect animal rights.
  - Buy only those products whose production is not associated with cruelty to animals.
  - Donate money charitable organizations that help animals.
7. Donate feminine hygiene products. In many poor countries (for example, in many parts of Africa and India), personal hygiene products are not available to women. This, at best, leads to humiliation and isolation, and at worst, to discomfort and life-threatening infections. By donating hygiene products and money to organizations that work on this issue, you can help women stay healthy and do everyday things like going to school and work that lead to better living conditions.
  - Look for such organizations in your area.
  How to make the world a better place at home
  1. Be a good person. Often we get so caught up in changing the world that we forget about the everyday little things that also matter. One of the most important things is to treat others the way you would like to be treated. Do something nice for people as often as possible. This can be small things (like giving a person a birthday present) or something more significant (giving a ride until they get their car fixed). When people collaborate, things run more smoothly, and the resulting benefits ultimately make the world around us a better place.
    
    Set a good example. Set an example for your friends and family and tell them about the best different problems so they can make more informed decisions. Explain to people why these things are important so they will be more motivated to make changes in their lives. By changing something in people's minds, you can double, triple, or further increase your positive impact on the world.
    
    Find a job. Almost any work will be useful for society. You will provide a service to people who need it, and you will contribute to the economy of your region, improving the lives of everyone around you. In addition, work provides money, and money can be donated to charity or loaned to a small business.
  2. Be a positive person. When we are surrounded by negative and unkind people, we ourselves become sad pessimists, which makes it more difficult for us to overcome life difficulties. Try to show others that a smile and positive attitude can positively affect the mood of people around. If you find something positive even in difficult situations and will actively strive to solve problems, you will provide good influence on the people you will interact with.
    - If you know how you can make the world a better place, do what you can and tell others about it. Let more people know about this!
    - Protect the weak, take the side of those who cannot stand up for themselves, and fight for those who cannot fight for themselves.
    - Don't throw trash. Collect trash for recycling.
    - Try to provide services to people more often. Don't be afraid to offer people help.
    - Try reading to young children. Being kind to children will teach children to be kind to others.
    - Set up a large garden and use the resulting fertilizer there. Grow food so you don't have to buy it.
    - Don't throw away food. It's better to buy less and eat it all than to buy too much and throw away the rest.
    - Try to tell everyone everything you know about pollution environment, and especially about global warming. We all have a voice, so don't be afraid to tell people how you can help others and where you can start.
    - Donate money to charities of any size. Money is needed not only by large but also by small organizations. There are small organizations that engage in certain activities and donate all the proceeds to charity.
    - Vegetarianism doesn't just help animals. It helps reduce emissions greenhouse gases(which is good for combating global warming and benefits the environment), allows for more food to be produced, and even reduces the risk of cancer (not to mention reducing the risk of heart disease and obesity).
    - Use paper bags instead of plastic ones. Plastic takes a very long time to decompose.
    Warnings
    - Don't be discouraged if you feel like you can't change anything. Big changes start with ordinary conversations between two people and become a reality through the combined efforts of like-minded people.
    - Research information about organizations you want to help or donate money to. Some organizations, even if completely legal, spend virtually no money on their stated goals. Study all available information about the selected organization.

When I ask people if they want to make the world just a little better, they answer without hesitation: “Yes! But...".

As a “but” I usually hear something like: “Alone in the field is not a warrior”, “You can’t change anything anyway”, “I alone won’t influence anything”, etc.

Who needs this?!

I used to answer this way myself, but now I think differently: You can make a significant contribution to the present and future of the planet! And it’s very necessary :)

Moreover, as I see it, this is important not only for the planet. First of all, we need it ourselves!

We are accustomed to belittling our role on the scale of the city, country, planet, and universe.

We are used to dissolving in the Universe, considering ourselves a tiny speck on the body of the planet, a droplet in the sea.
Photo source: pixabay.com

Such belittling plays an evil role. Without seeing the results of their contribution, considering themselves a kind of microparticle, people lose motivation to do anything.

After all, if the result is not noticeable, why bother at all? Is it worth inventing something, tearing your butt off the comfortable sofa, wasting energy and personal time, even if only for five minutes?

Usually activists and social organizations They are trying to raise people’s motivation with slogans like: “Where there is one, there are millions!”, “If every warrior is not afraid to be alone in the field, then it will turn out that the entire field is already filled with warriors ready for battle!”

It sounds nice, but it's not catchy! Doesn't motivate! At least I was never motivated. I think I'm not the only one.

After all, all these slogans are an appeal to a sense of duty, to high-flown (albeit important!) ideas and ideals, to the “spirit of a warrior”, which in fact modern society almost none left...

My personal bonus

I want to offer you another motivation, which does not try to play on duty and morality, but appeals to feelings, to the personal “bonus” of each of us, which can be received here and now.

At least it works for me and I truly believe it might resonate with someone else!

I thought about this.

Quote on Twitter

See: we admire and respect those who “save the world in a big way.” For example, I really respect the rescuers of the Ministry of Emergency Situations who extract people from the rubble...

And doctors - surgeons and resuscitators, who can restore the lives of many people during a shift...

There are also workers of humanitarian missions in Africa who treat, feed, and teach African children.

All of them are great guys, they do a good job and, it seems to me, they feel needed by this world, despite the time and effort spent! But if tomorrow someone from my circle saves just one life, I will admire him in the same way! And if I do it myself, I will feel such an emotional return, as if I had saved a hundred people :)

For example, I jump into the water and save a drowning child. How will I feel after?

Most likely, it will be a feeling of pride, satisfaction, a feeling that this day is special. It was not in vain, I didn’t just sit in the office and do routine work, I saved a life!

Grateful eyes of a saved person and his family. Feeling important to these people. These are pleasant feelings that are converted into words for me - implementation, involvement.

And, you know...

To be honest, I don't have to save drowning children to feel like a hero. I will have full pockets of happiness, even if I remove the cat from the tree from which she is afraid to jump. Or I’ll help you get the dog that fell through the hatch. Cool too :)

Why am I doing all this? Besides, you don’t have to get hung up on the idea that if you’re not carrying out an extremely important mission, then you can give up and do nothing!

The main motivation for me is my (no one else’s) self-satisfaction, my fulfillment, my feeling of inner warmth and my own coolness: “By doing for myself, I thereby help the planet.”

In practice, this is implemented simply: every day I do something that makes this world a better place, at least a little.

It’s not difficult at all, it doesn’t take time, effort or money. It's simple and free!

At the same time, I feel that same belonging. It's a nice feeling to know that I'm doing something useful and important.

Osho has a wonderful phrase: “You are a guest. Leave this earth a little more beautiful, a little more humane, a little more loving, a little more fragrant for those unknown guests who will come after you.”

So, what exactly do I do to be in harmony with the world and myself.

I don't use disposable tableware

Designed for convenience and to save time, disposable tableware actually destroys the world rather than improves it. It is made mainly from polystyrene and polypropylene. This is harmful chemical production, which pollutes the air and soil with emissions.

After using the cup for just a minute, we throw it away. But not only has it already harmed the environment with its production, but it also almost does not decompose.
Photo source: pixabay.com

Once in the ground, plastic releases toxic substances, which then, along the chain, pollute plants, animals and humans too. The decomposition period of plastic depending on external conditions takes from a hundred to a thousand years! It is also not suitable for reuse, as it loses its qualities and becomes harmful to the body.

So it turns out that plastic trash scattered all over the planet. 10% of the plastic produced sooner or later ends up in the ocean, and that’s ten million tons! The accumulation of this garbage forms huge garbage patches in the World Ocean. Now there are five known of them - two each in the Quiet and Atlantic Oceans and one - in Indian.

Under certain climatic conditions plastic crumbles into small grains of sand and releases toxic substances (bisphenol-A, vinyl chloride) that poison sea world- fish, turtles, birds that hunt fish at the surface of the water.

I don't think a plastic cup is worth the sacrifice. It’s not at all difficult for me to give this gift to the world - not to use disposable tableware in the office, at home, outdoors.

In the office I use a mug; on picnics I take comfortable camping utensils (not made of plastic) with me. Actually, it wasn’t difficult to come to this. After all, we all did this before, before the “era of the plastic cup.”

I don't throw trash anywhere

The trash that he leaves behind modern man, as a rule, is toxic and harmful, nothing can be done about it! But at least from the trash can it will end up in landfills specially designated for it.

It’s a pity, of course, that piece of land under the landfill that is completely dying out. More environmentally friendly ways of dealing with waste exist, but it will take many years for them to become common practice.

For now there is no other way. But if I throw garbage on the ground in the forest or leave it behind on the beach, it’s on my personal conscience.

This is no longer the kind of society we have, no modern world, which sacrificed total pollution of the planet to civilization. In this case, it is I personally who are destroying a clearing, a tree, a sea turtle with my own hands.
Photo source: pixabay.com

I myself never throw out trash anywhere. And I don’t blame the state or anyone else for the fact that there are no trash cans in the forest, and the beaches are poorly cleaned.

I prefer to clean up all my trash myself. And if time permits, I can pick up other people’s trash. For example, in a clearing in the forest. And my friends always help me with this.

And it never ceases to amaze me when decently dressed people throw pieces of paper and cigarette butts on the asphalt, two steps from the trash can. A minimum of effort is required to throw it in the trash. And maximum harm occurs when garbage covers the ground.

I love animals, respect their right to life

Besides garbage, there is another problem. When I'm on vacation, I often see people feeding fish with human food on the beaches near hotels. They also push food through the bars to animals at the zoo.

I'm sure many of you have seen this happen. This is mainly done to amuse the children. But it seems to me that the children have nothing to do with it, and there is no need to shift responsibility onto them.

If you look at the situation openly, it turns out like this: fish in the sea and animals in the zoo are not sometimes, but very often they die because we feed them buns, eggs and sweets. It is very painful and sad for me to realize this.

Therefore, I will never feed animals food that is not intended for them. This seems to me an undignified and stupid act.

I respect nature and its inhabitants. When I have children, I will pass on this respect to them. I’m sure they will understand me and will be happy to look at the fish in the sea and animals in the zoo without harming them!

I hope that over time, zoos in which animals are kept in cramped conditions and cages will disappear. If you create a zoo for the entertainment of people, then it should be as spacious as possible so that the animals live there, as in natural environment. I know that there are such parks in America, Asia and probably somewhere else.
Photo source: pixabay.com

This also includes the fact that I do not eat or carry animals. This also seems like a violation of nature to me.

This is my opinion and is based on the following thoughts. I do not believe that eating animals is necessary for human life and health.

I read several books on this topic, and they convinced me. For example, The China Study by Colin Campbell and Nutrition 80/10/10 by Douglas Graham. You can believe the books or not, but the most significant thing for me is my health and appearance. Although I have been living without meat, fish and dairy products for several years now. Moreover, I almost stopped getting colds, I actively play sports and sleep well.

What is especially important to me is that I do not contribute to the killing of animals for food and clothing. For me, animals are friends, not food. By the way, among other things, giving up meat for me is also a contribution to the cleanliness of the planet.

After all livestock farms pollute the planet even more than cars and industrial enterprises. I wrote about this in an article about meat on my blog.

I do not encourage anyone to forcibly give up meat; everyone must make their own choice.

Quote on Twitter

It's natural for me! Every month without meat I save the lives of 17 living beings (animals, birds, fish). This is exactly what the average person on the planet eats.

And it's so easy to do!

Firstly, the shelves of modern supermarkets are bursting with a variety of foods, including vegan ones. And secondly, vegan dishes can be very tasty!

I use the car only when necessary

The car is, of course, cool! I consider his invention a breakthrough.

With the help of a car, I can quickly move between cities and even countries, have time to go out of town on weekends, buy groceries for a week or a whole month, and not waste time on small purchases every day.

Thanks to the automobile industry, we can eat fruits and vegetables brought from neighboring countries in winter. This is one side of the coin.

On the other hand, cars pollute the world in which we live. They pollute the air, burn huge amounts of petroleum products, and are the cause of the so-called “ noise pollution", which is harmful to both animals and people.

One passenger car annually absorbs about four tons of oxygen from the atmosphere, emitting approximately 800 kg of carbon monoxide, 40 kg of nitrogen oxides and almost 200 kg of various hydrocarbons. If we multiply these figures by the global passenger car fleet (> 600 million vehicles), then the damage seems simply catastrophic to me.
Photo source: pixabay.com

I don't want to turn into a fanatic and I don't encourage anyone to give up their car.

I understand that in big city It’s not that it’s impossible without a car, but it’s much less comfortable. But I don’t want to go over to the other side of fanaticism and drive a car always and everywhere.

I have legs with which I can walk. And then there are bikes, roller skates and now fashionable scooters, which can also diversify the methods of transportation.

For example, in the summer I sometimes ride my bike to work, which I perceive as an additional workout for my body.

There is also the metro, which makes it easier and faster for me to get to work. When I go on the subway, I read books that interest me. And I use the time during which I walk from the metro to work and back to think about something important or pleasant.

It’s still not possible to relax and give in to your thoughts while driving, especially during the morning rush hour.

When traveling out of town, I always try to team up with friends as much as possible so as not to drive in a half-empty car.

By the way, there are now websites where you can find a travel companion for trips to work or out of town! Same great option.

It seems like it doesn’t cost anything to do all this, but there will definitely be benefits! I believe in it.

I do not buy or accept bouquets of flowers (except meadow flowers) as gifts.

It may seem counterintuitive, but there is a connection between a bouquet of flowers and the purity of the planet.

I don’t know how it is in Holland (I won’t lie), but I saw how flowers grow in one of the African countries. They began to grow flowers there, which the locals living in poverty were happy about, because they now had a job.

However, the seemingly innocent flower industry has taken a noticeable toll on the environment! Flowers were treated with powerful fertilizers and chemicals, which damaged the soil, then groundwater, bodies of water and, of course, the inhabitants of the earth and aquatic environment. As a result, everything turned into the death and disappearance of some plants and animals, contamination of even drinking water...

This can be viewed in different ways, but personally, I don’t like bouquets of purchased cut flowers so much as to think that they are worth the harm that growing them brings. Although, of course, I enjoy a fresh bouquet of wildflowers or flowers in a pot.

I think this: no matter where you look, any big industrial production- this is evil... Like giant meat farms, like dairy farms, like flower farms... The larger the scale of the business, the less chance there is of preserving any values other than main goal- earn as much as possible more money at any cost. Including at the cost of people's health and the cleanliness of the planet.

I treat resources with care

Ways to save Natural resources without much damage to your own comfort.

I don’t pretend to be a god and of course I don’t use everything possible ways. I'm telling it like it is. But here's what I do: I don't leave the water tap open when I'm not using it.

Again, I don’t use the car unless necessary, and some small things.

For example, I have several plastic bags, which I don’t throw away and one large bag from Ikea.

I use them to store groceries in the store, that is, I try not to use new bags every time. And I cut the cotton pads that I use to remove makeup in half and put these halves in a convenient, beautiful box.

This reduces consumption by exactly half, without affecting my comfort in any way.

At work, whenever possible, I use drafts for reprinting.

I recently found glass and steel straws for cocktails on the Internet. That is, you can buy one such reusable straw instead of disposable plastic ones! And there are dozens of such examples!

It's just sample list what I personally can give as a gift to the planet without the slightest loss for myself.

I don’t want to extol my achievements to any special heights, but I will note: I am pleased to do all this, I am proud of it. Although I clearly know that it is not worth dwelling on this. We must look for new ways to live in harmony with the world, love nature, protect it, or at least not destroy it with our own hands.

It is very important that when you start to think about these things, many people around you also begin to think, and then their friends. And so in a simple way you can start a big flywheel of good.

I even have a specific example. My friend Valera told me at work about the price plastic cup. And a month later his company completely refused to purchase plastic dishes to the office. It was so unexpected and so pleasant! It would be great if there were more stories like this!

I wish you to be participants in such good stories, try it and feel how cool it is!

Most people think selfishly, this is normal. We must take care of our own well-being in order to survive. But by making the world a better place, we make our lives better.

1. It makes you happier and healthier. Even small acts of kindness trigger neurochemical reactions in the brain that improve emotional and physical state: pain decreases, depression and stress levels decrease, blood pressure normalizes.

2. Kindness is a natural human instinct. It helps you appreciate affection, love and friendship more. Kindness and compassion influence the survival of the species. One kind word can change a life. Especially if your kind deed is the only good thing that happened to a person in a day, or a week, or a month.

3. Kindness is contagious. Having seen a person perform a selfless act, we are more likely to want to do something similar. It's like it starts a chain positive changes and at the same time proves that kindness and compassion can be taught not by words, but by example.

4. Kindness reduces anxiety, depression and worry. If you're feeling sad, down, and lonely, try going outside (or even just going online) and do something good for someone. This is a great alternative to soul-searching and sad thoughts. And this will help you get distracted a little so that you can then look at your problems from a different perspective.

5. Selfless actions balance negative events. Sometimes bad things happen and we can't prevent them. But we can restore balance by making the world a little better ourselves. And for this you don’t need to be a world leader and save the planet from global warming. You need to open your heart and believe that even a small good deed can change someone's life for the better.

6. Doing good deeds feels good (and right). Often we don't know how we affected good words or a small help in the lives of others. But just as often we hear stories of people for whom someone’s participation turned out to be the most important event, who changed everything. It is quite possible that one of these people is the same sad stranger for whom you once added 10 rubles for a metro ticket, or the mother whom you helped lift her stroller up the stairs.

Are you ready to do something good yet? Here are 33 actions that will change the world for the better:

1. Be kind to strangers. Hold the door for the one coming behind you. Smile at your neighbor who is walking his dog in the yard. It won't cost you anything, but it will start a chain of positivity.

2. Offer whatever help you can. Bring groceries to a sick friend, fix a colleague’s closet door, clean up the stairwell.

3. Show attention to your loved one. Listen, if your partner or friend has a problem, help take the cat to the vet, bake a cake. Such care is often valued much more than expensive gifts or flowers.

4. Take care of the environment. Yes, your kindness does not have to be directed at people. Pick up an empty can that someone threw past the trash can. Plant a tree or flowers in your shared yard. Even such simple things make the world a better and more beautiful place.

5. Pay for someone's lunch. You are standing in line at a fast food restaurant and waiting for your order to be ready. If you don’t mind a small amount of money, quietly pay for the order of the person behind you; he may never know that it was you, but he will be happy for a long time and tell everyone he knows about it. And maybe one of them will do the same someday.

6. Give a compliment. Never miss a chance to say something nice, even to strangers. Compliment the barista's hair color at the coffee shop, tell a colleague how her new makeup looks on her, admire the way someone's child draws.

7. Write kind notes.“I love you” takes on a special charm if we read it in a note stuck to the bathroom mirror, or find it in our bag when we arrive at work or unpack a suitcase on a business trip.

8. Say “thank you.” Thank someone who once, even many years ago, made your life better. This could be a classmate, a parent, a colleague, a psychologist, or even ex-partner. Tell us how their support has helped you.

9. Become a volunteer. You can help selflessly in any area, from working with orphanages and hospitals to helping organize sporting events. You don’t have to do this all the time; even one-time help will make a difference.

10. Donate money. A small amount given to charity will help a good cause.

11. Take on part of someone else's responsibilities. This may be one-time assistance. Is your friend tired and needs to go pick up something? Do it instead. There will be no limit to gratitude.

12. Prepare favorite dish for friend. This will cheer him up.

13. Reminisce. Have you experienced something wonderful together? Think about it together. Look at old photos, discuss funny details. You can try to repeat that experience.

14. Help older people. Trips to nursing homes, letters of encouragement, and lovingly collected and wrapped gifts make a huge difference to lonely seniors living without family.

15. Offer physical assistance. What can you do? Paint the walls, re-stick the wallpaper, assemble the furniture, move the closet. This can make someone's life a lot easier and is also a great way to spend time together.

16. Teach someone. Are you able to do something that some other people can't? Knit, sew, ride a bike, cook delicious cookies old recipe? Teach it to someone who wanted to learn these skills.

17. Make someone's day brighter. Invite a friend or colleague to participate in something interesting, be it ice skating, a quest, or playing cards.

18. Expand your horizons. Offer to go to an exhibition, concert, museum or performance together.

19. Present a certificate to the salon. Spa, massage, manicure, whatever.

20. Help a friend with a pet. Does he have no one to leave the animal with? Offer to walk the dog or feed the cat.

21. Host a lunch or dinner. Invite a friend to visit and feed you delicious, lovingly prepared dishes. Friendly conversation will be a great addition.

22. Babysit other people's children. Has your friend not left the house without a baby stroller for six months or hasn’t gone to the store alone? Offer to babysit her children one evening.

23. Go on a day date. Do you have a partner? Invite him for coffee or ice cream in the park. This half hour will lift your spirits.

25. Support those who feel bad. Prayer, meditation, lighting a candle in church, or kind thoughts and words can change something for the better.

26. Give away unnecessary things. There are clothes hanging in the closet that you don’t wear, books that you won’t re-read are on the shelves, and an old laptop that you replaced with two new ones is gathering dust on the windowsill. Give them to people who really need them but can't afford them. It will be a blessing for them, and you will get rid of unnecessary things.

27. Make a donation for someone else.. Choose with a friend charity project and make a donation on his behalf.

28. Take over your partner's daily chores. At least for one day. Cooking, washing, ironing, reading with children, walking the dog, cleaning, grocery shopping... Do it yourself, without asking your partner for help. You'll make his day so much better, and you'll also gain a new appreciation for everything he does for you every day.

29. Be kind to yourself. Don't forget that you are human too. Make time for your favorite activities, whether reading or exercising. Don’t overload yourself with helping others - do as much as you can, and leave some strength for yourself. Otherwise, selfless help will very quickly turn into a burden.

30. Learn to say no. Sometimes best help to another person - the word “no”. Some people find it helpful to understand that you can't always rush to save them or do something for them. They will learn to rely on themselves, and you will be able to relax and recuperate and help later, when there is a desire and opportunity.

31. Forgive yourself. If you often reproach yourself for not helping someone, or not helping enough, think about how many good deeds you have done. You cannot and should not save everyone. Having stopped blaming yourself, you will take great pleasure in caring for others, not out of a sense of duty, but because you have such a desire.

32. Allow yourself negative emotions. We are used to thinking that being angry and offended is bad. But we have every right to have negative emotions. By allowing yourself to feel them, you will experience relief and these feelings will leave you much faster. The world will also be a better place from this.

33. Do good deeds every day. The more good you bring into the world, the better it will become and the more good and happiness there will be in your own life - and in the lives of your loved ones. Start a positive chain.

about the author

Leader of trainings on relationships and self-development. Her website.

Making the world a better place is no easy task. This is a laudable desire that requires active action from a person. Everyone in this regard can do what depends on him. There are many ways to transform the environment.

Making the world a better place means working on a set of problems

Many people are now seriously thinking about how to make the world a better place. There is nothing surprising. Indeed, according to statistics from VTsIOM, every year a family of four produces about 400 kg of garbage waste. Others are thinking not only about how to make our planet cleaner, but also about the possibility of making the world a little kinder.

Still others believe that the question of how to make the world a better place has a completely different meaning. On English language it goes like this: “How to make the world a better place?” This phrase better conveys another meaning of this question: making the world a better place often means that a person must improve the environment in which he himself lives. Better place translated means “better place”. That is why the question in English most fully reflects the whole meaning of this problem. Make peace best place for yourself - this means taking care of the environment, giving goodness to your neighbors, and also solving existing problems. All these tasks are set by the person who truly strives to make the world more perfect.

We often complain about environmental problems, but nothing in this world can change until the people themselves change. The following rules will be of interest to everyone who cares about nature, as well as to schoolchildren working on the essay “How to make the world a better place?”

Replace lamps from conventional ones to energy-saving ones. This will help significantly reduce emissions carbon dioxide in atmosphere.
Go to household appliances class A. It costs more, but consumes much less resources.
enjoy toilet paper made from recycled materials. According to experts, every year about 10 hectares of forest are wasted for “toilet” expenses. Those who are horrified by this figure can use toilet paper that is labeled “made from recycled materials.”
Use the shower. This will help conserve water supplies. It is also useful to repair household appliances. After all, one faulty tap can carry away up to 300 liters of water per day.
Avoid disposable household items. For example, replace plastic bags rag bags; stop using disposable tableware; Instead of using paper handkerchiefs, switch to fabric handkerchiefs.
Don't pay for something that is actually garbage. About 70% household waste represent unnecessary packaging. Anyone who thinks about how to make the world a better place can buy goods in bulk instead of packaged in plastic. Also, before going to the store, you should put the bag in the storage room, and not wrap it in film.
Choose products made by local companies. Firstly, they are more useful, and secondly, much less resources are spent on their transportation.
To plant a tree. You can cut it down in a minute, although it grows long years. The one who planted a tree under the window thereby benefited both himself and the world around him.
Donate old clothes. If it can still serve, then it should be used. There are many orphanages and charities where they will gladly accept donations of old, unnecessary things.

Bring benefit to the world, starting with yourself

Responsible attitude towards nature and man himself, and the entire planet. Benefiting the environment and doing good go hand in hand. Since it is impossible to make the world a better place without following the principles of an eco-friendly lifestyle, there are many people who adhere to this concept. Among them are many rich and popular people- for example, Brad Pitt, Mark Zuckerberg. Even if it is customary to throw garbage anywhere in the yard, a person has the right to choose whether to behave the same as others. In any case, for those who are looking for an answer to the question “What can be done to make the world a better place?” you should start with yourself.

Do good

Another way to make the world around you a little better is through good deeds. Most people believe that you need to do good only in relation to those who can appreciate it and respond equally. To some extent, this approach is selfish - a person does good deeds only on the condition that he can receive a reward. Of course, such an approach has a right to exist. However, the most sincere actions are those of people who do not expect rewards for their work. Everyone can make the world a little kinder - after all, doing good deeds is not difficult. The main thing is to be sincere. Real goodness does not pursue selfish interests and comes from the heart.

Examples of good deeds

What actions help make the world a kinder and better place?

Give to the poor large family movie tickets.
Please your mother, wife or sister with a bouquet of roses.
Let a person pass in line.
Print out an ad on a piece of paper with the words “Take it with you”, and on the tear-off parts write the words “Joy”, “Courage”, “Love”, “Success”. Maybe someone just needs such a small “dose” of inspiration. In a difficult life situation, even this small drop of goodness can become decisive for a person.
Buy new combs, washcloths, toothpaste and soap, and donate it to the volunteers of the homeless fund.
Praise the new perfume of a colleague or neighbor.
Buy a couple of packages of diapers and donate them to the orphanage.

Improve yourself

Engaging in self-development and solving existing problems is also a great way to improve the world. After all, every person is an integral part of the universe. Therefore, while working on himself, he also works to improve the world. Of course, no one will give a straight answer to the question of how to make the best self-development choices in the world. Here a person must determine his own preferences. Some people need to get rid of excessive aggressiveness, others need to stop being afraid and anxious. One person lacks responsibility, another, on the contrary, needs to learn to be more relaxed and trust other people. Working on yourself is always a long process. Often the determining condition for its effectiveness is joint work with a competent psychologist.

General recommendations for making the world a better place through self-development are as follows: you need to learn to take responsibility for your life, make healthy decisions, develop awareness, respect other people's time, and also be compassionate. Many of the great people have had these qualities. For example, this was Mahatma Gandhi, who devoted his entire life to the struggle for social transformation in his native India. It is known that Gandhi practiced meditation, taught forgiveness, and sought to serve other people. For more than three decades he was the main inspirer of the national liberation movement. His efforts, as well as the work of those who were nearby, were crowned with a historic victory. Therefore, Gandhi’s example shows: working on yourself is also a means to make the world a better place.

We all want to live in a kind, cultural and civilized world. A world in which our children can develop and be happy. But, we are bogged down in the fight against poverty, disease, crime, violence, pollution, ignorance and other problems.

Anyone can complain, cross their fingers and place the blame on someone who is bothering them today, but that is not enough to change the world. Only the bravest and strong-willed can recognize existing problems and take steps towards positive changes.

Actions done with with a pure heart and care can have incredible power and influence both the people around us and the planet as a whole.

Here is a short list of 19 simple things you can do to make the world a kinder place:

1. Say hello to people you meet on the streets. 80% of them are generally good, kind people.

2. Laugh and let those around you be infected by your fun. Laughter is contagious.

3. Hug with your loved ones.

4. Smile at the cashier, waiter, bartender, valet, etc., and ask them how they are doing.

5. Listen carefully to what people want to tell you, do not interrupt them.

6. Find something in the people you meet positive side and give a compliment.

7. Show the way to people who are lost.

8. Help a homeless animal that needs help.

9. Be patient, kind and respectful to people older than you.

10. Respect other people's property.

11. Hold the door for people who are carrying heavy things, pulling a stroller, or simply walking right behind you.

12. Prepare breakfast in bed or dinner for your loved one and he will do the same to you.

13. If you have unnecessary things, don't throw them away. Give it to special reception centers for people who really need it.

14. Behave civilly when driving: follow the rules and keep a safe distance between your car and the car in front, give way to pedestrians, motorists and other participants traffic. The person behind you may not approve of your actions, but remember that kindness starts with you!

15. Give up your seat in transport to someone who needs it.

16. Do not throw garbage on sidewalks and roads; find a trash can.

17. Respect your neighbors, don’t make noise after 11 pm.

18. Do not smoke in common areas: on stairs and landings, in elevators.

19. Do art in any form - draw, make sculptures, sketches, write, compose music, invent dance moves. Start and do it - it will add new colors to the world.

And remember, every action matters. Each person can make the world a little better and kinder than it is.