On this Fourth of July, I am reminded of our freedoms and our rights including the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Most of us are busily engaged in activities we believe will help us to achieve happiness. Yet happiness seems to elude us. It can be so fleeting!
Are you pursuing happiness? Do you want something that will satisfy you deeply? At Simply Great Lives, we believe that changing people’s lives for the better will bring you the satisfaction you seek.
People often misunderstand what we mean when we talk about making a difference in the lives of other people. So John and I were talking the other day about how we can explain the kind of change we are talking about. This new model is in its infancy and we are just developing it now. So I will describe the idea and show you a rough graphic.
There are different levels of impact. In our experience, the higher the impact, the more satisfaction we experience. Here are the different levels of impact from smaller to greater:
- Change a person’s mood
- Change a person’s circumstances temporarily
- Change a person’s circumstances permanently
- Change a person’s behavior temporarily
- Change a person’s behavior permanently
- Change a person
- Change a person for eternity
The level of change we typically encourage people to go for is to change the person, not just their mood, circumstances or behavior. Most people don’t consider these distinctions. We hear people say things like “I will just smile at people and that will make a difference.” But that level of change is very surface-level and doesn’t really change the person. At best, it changes their mood for a little while.
This picture is of a ruler that measures how much of an impact we are really making.
Every step up in these levels of change comes with a corresponding increase in our level of satisfaction. Changing people’s mood isn’t as satisfying as changing their circumstances. Changing their circumstances isn’t satisfying is changing their behavior. Changing their behavior isn’t as satisfying as changing the person. Changing a person’s eternity is the most satisfying of all.
Are you clear on what you want to change in other people? Most people never really get clear on what they are wanting to make different in the lives of other people. If you want more happiness–more real satisfaction–go for a deeper level of change.
Would you like to see how amazing it would feel to be making a deep, lasting and meaningful impact in the lives of other people? Click here for information on our Life Impact Academy 101: Shift. It’s a powerful three hour live seminar offered in person in Roseville, CA and online, too. If you’re wanting to make more of a positive impact, it’s a great place to start.
Have a great Fourth of July!
