How to change the world one person at a time

“Be more concerned with your character than your reputation because your character is what you really are while your reputation is merely what others think you are.”

—John Wooden

People wish the world could change but get discouraged when things go back to business as usual. However, that is the wrong attitude to have. It takes away from personal responsibility to change actions and puts it on everyone else.

Here we are two months removed from the high-profile Charlie Kirk assassination, and it is sad to say the talk about changing the tone fell on deaf ears. Can we do better? Yes, but the real question is will we do better in the future?

It’s easy to point fingers and play the blame game, but we need to realize we have a part to play. Expecting others to change but not changing ourselves is like having someone else go to work for you and getting paid anyway. We change the world by becoming a person of character.

Character is doing the right thing even when it's not convenient. The easy way is not always the right way. We can learn the most from our difficulties. Some of the most difficult explanations of our lives can provide a very strong character in us.

Take my cerebral palsy, for example. I wasn’t always at peace with my disability. It was no fun to be made fun of, being known only as the handicapped kid. I couldn’t get past my limitations. However, one day I was praying and asking God why I was born this way, and God showed me that my disability is for his glory. Having cerebral palsy gave me more love for people who are hurting.

Let the bad times help develop in us the tools to enhance our character. Being a person of character doesn’t mean life will be easy. It means we own our mistakes, but we do what is important to help the world be a better place. We do what is necessary, not what is convenient. People want to trust others in a world of distrust. People can see character as a safe space to land.

Kyle Snyder can be emailed at kylesnyder86@yahoo.com.