Seven Words That Can Change the World

In a word, our relationship with others is about kindness. Too often, we act only in our perceived self-interest. We feel that if we do not look out for ourselves, who will? In an interrelated world, we are obliged also to look beyond ourselves. In the Talmud, Rabbi Hillel wrote, “If I am not for myself who will be? But if I am for myself only, what am I?” In an interdependent existence, we ignore and mistreat others at our peril. We are like links in a chain. The fate of each link affects the fortunes of all others.

There is individuality but not independence. To think differently is to delude ourselves. We are dependent upon each other at every turn. Our integrity affects the integrity of the whole.

We are each a part of a system of relationships that embrace our family, friends, neighbors, business associates, organizations, communities, nations, and family of nations. No single object or entity exists independently.

When we think only of ourselves, we invite conflict and everyone involved suffers. What we do to others, we do to ourselves. Those of us aware of this have begun altering our lives to conform to principles and virtues that nurture and sustain relationships. As we replace our destructive habits with ones that are constructive, everyone profits.

Filed under: Earth and Life, environmental crisis, global remedies, overpopulation, prosperity, quality of life, sustainability