How to Make a Difference

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“Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.” – Mother Teresa

I try pay extra close attention when I hear the same message from many sources. It’s like a wake-up call that is too powerful to ignore.

Here’s a message that I keep hearing: Getting involved with an issue or cause you are passionate about will change your life as well as do good for the world. To make a difference, start small, stay local, and be consistent. I’ve heard that in conversations with filmmaker Peter Samuelson, activist Sam Daley-Harris and now in this latest episode of the How to Share podcast with Sharon Eubank.

Sharon is the Global Director of Humanitarian Services for the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We are talking about her book Doing Small Things With Great Love. It is such a helpful and hopeful book that provides a blueprint for effective service.

Sharon shares a few of the 92 stories in her amazing book that she provides as illustrations of the 12 principles for effective and lasting service. Based in her years of experience working in communities near and far, Sharon has distilled some thoughtful truths that inspire us to action.

We talk about how we sometimes don’t feel we can make a difference as individuals and why sometimes it seems easier to contribute to project far away than the ones in our own cities and towns. Sharon gives some great examples of why local solutions for local problems are more effective.

We talk about how service and volunteering can make such a difference in our own lives. Sharon not only provides a blueprint for effective and lasting service, she also provides some suggestions to get us started doing small things with great love. I highly recommend this book!

This is an incredible episode that gets to the very heart and soul of collaboration – how we can be useful to one another. I know you’ll love it.

Takeaways

  • Sharon emphasizes the importance of local solutions for local problems.
  • Volunteering can be a transformative experience for both the giver and receiver.
  • Mentorship plays a crucial role in personal and professional development.
  • Small acts of service can lead to significant community impact.
  • Overcoming barriers to service often starts with individual passion and energy.
  • Building bridges of understanding is essential in a polarized world.
  • Effective service requires understanding the needs of those being helped.
  • Storytelling enriches the experience of service and community engagement.
  • Creating opportunities for connection can foster a sense of belonging.
  • The cycle of replenishment is vital for sustaining service efforts.

Here’s a delightful taste of Sharon describing the magic of volunteering:

Here are some ways you can listen and watch this inspiring episode:

Please listen, watch, provide feedback and subscribe.

How to Share Our Luck with Gil Gillenwater – How To Share

In this enlightening conversation, Gil Gillenwater is with host Wynne Leon and shares his experiences and insights from over 35 years of philanthropic work along the US-Mexico border. He discusses his book, 'Hope on the Border,' which highlights the transformative power of education and community service. Gil emphasizes the importance of enlightened self-interest over traditional charity, advocating for a model that empowers individuals and fosters dignity. He explores the duality of poverty, the need for sustainable opportunities, and the joy found in serving others, ultimately presenting a vision for a more connected and compassionate world.TakeawaysEducation is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty.Enlightened self-interest can lead to personal and communal growth.Charity should not be viewed as a sacrifice but as a mutual benefit.Volunteering provides a sense of purpose and fulfillment.Welfare can disempower individuals and communities.Community service fosters connections and shared humanity.The disparity in wealth is a significant issue that needs addressing.Experiencing poverty firsthand can change perspectives.Creating opportunities in one's home country can reduce migration.The joy of service is a pathway to personal happiness.Links for this episode:How to Share homeHope on the Border at AmazonGil's organization: Rancho FelizGil Gillenwater on FacebookWynne’s book about her beloved father: Finding My Father’s Faith; Blog: https://wynneleon.com/; Substack: https://wynneleon930758.substack.com/
  1. How to Share Our Luck with Gil Gillenwater
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  3. How to Share Feedback with Dr. Vicki Atkinson
  4. How to Share the Next Generation with Mari Sarkisian Wyatt
  5. How to Share Impactfully with Social Media Friends with Amy Weinland Daughters

Links for this episode:

Doing Small Things With Great Love by Sharon Eubank at Barnes & Noble, Amazon and Audible

Sharon Eubank on LinkedIn

How to Make a Difference with Sharon Eubank transcript

(featured photo from Pexels)

63 thoughts on “How to Make a Difference”

  1. Wynne – this looks very interesting. I know how serving others has transformed me over the years from scouts and teaching to serving others through the food pantry my life has changed. Looking forward to listening and thinking. Have a wonderful Wednesday.

    Liked by 3 people

  3. From my many years of service, my life was forever changed, The most unexpected thing was the impact that volunteers make because of a united passion to make a difference.

    Liked by 2 people

  6. Loved this episode so much!! “My solution to your problem will always be wrong.” This ties in perfectly with the importance of local solutions for local problems.
    Wynne, I love how near the end of this episode Sharon said, “You promote good ideas and good people … and it makes me happy to be included….”. This is so very important in today’s world, where people spend far too much time finding ways to hurt and insult each other. You sum this up seamlessly with this takeaway – “Building bridges of understanding is essential in a polarized world.”

    Liked by 1 person

  8. This was a great post, Wynne. I have not, as yet, done any volunteer work, per se. I hear it changes your life and I loved watching that short video. I can picture everyone cheering for this young man because when you come together for a cause, you are already like-minded and care about others.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Ah, you said it so well, Dale. That’s what all these guests keep emphasizing – that you find people like yourself to bond with! I know that’s true for the work I’ve done with schools. Thanks for the great comment!

      Liked by 1 person

  9. I’m so looking forward to listening. I attended schools where I was required to volunteer hundreds of hours per year to remain enrolled. I ended up enjoying it so much, and I’m sure I’m a better person for it. Transformative is a great way to describe it.

    Liked by 2 people

  12. I have always volunteered since college. One of the best experiences I had was a six-year commitment with NCL volunteering with my daughter from middle school through her high school years. In Arizona, I felt like we were making a difference with the victims of sex trafficking, donating clothes and raising money for their residential facility. But my women’s group decided to find a new focus…I don’t think they’ve decided what yet. I can still donate to the residential facility on my own.

    Liked by 1 person

  14. what a wonderful message and I personally know this to be true. since I have retired I have had the honor and the time to be a volunteer in a variety of local causes. it has brought me great joy and gratification to help others. I, too prefer to help someone locally and see the impact my community. wonderful interview with Sharon.

    Liked by 1 person

  15. I agree with everything Sharon says about volunteering. There are specific venues where the walls of politics, ethnicity, gender, color, and other forms of discrimination are forgotten. I include sporting events, music concerts, and volunteering opportunities among the places where people bond over a shared purpose. Another benefit of volunteering is that not only are we helping others, but we get positive energy from those around us, which helps our own self-esteem.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Ah, you have such great experience in this arena, Pete! Yes, so many great places to bond – and feel good about ourselves. Love this comment – thanks for adding it to the conversation!

      Liked by 1 person

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  19. I love this, Wynne. All your takeaways are excellent, but this one in particular, “Small acts of service can lead to significant community impact,” is so important. A lot of people think that in order to help the community you need to schedule and be involved in a lot of volunteer work, but in reality, every little act helps: sending $5 to the local food bank, joining a group once a quarter to keep the trails free from trash, or just taking a meal to a neighbor recovering from surgery. The result of all these small acts of service is a united community working together toward the common good. I’m looking forward to listening to the full episode this weekend.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Such fantastic examples, Edward. Right – three different ways to make an impact and bring us closer together. I so appreciate the way you distill and synthesize information – it truly is a gift to make and an act of service in its own way. Enjoy the weekend!

      Liked by 1 person

  20. Many great takeaways, Wynne. My husband and I volunteered in Boy and Girl Scouts for years. He and I both had several positions, wearing different hats, and it was a good thing for our son and daughter. We were also Deacons in our church. When we retire, we’ll volunteer again. Giving of your time is like gold.

    Liked by 1 person

  21. Making a difference in the world doesn’t need to be big. Making a difference in someone’s life can end up being huge, even if the effort isn’t much. Last week an older man was asking people for money outside an Aldi’s, so he asked me too. I told him sorry, I wasn’t carrying cash. I did buy him some yummy, ready to eat and drink things but when I came out he wasn’t there, so I searched for him. He was very happy for the food, but what astonished him the most was “a white lady went inside and bought a black man some food”. For him that little act meant so much to him. For me it wasn’t a big deal, I’ll go and buy homeless people something to eat, as I know they aren’t welcome in the stores even if they do have money. Making a difference in this world can be as simple as buying a nice to-go combo meal and driving back to the corner where someone is begging for money. We don’t have to go very far or spend very much!

    Liked by 3 people

  22. Multiply and replenish – what a profound advice from Lloyd. It’s how we can do more to make a difference every day! It’s so bittersweet he shared that at his late stage in life but such strong words to remember.

    It is indeed often at the local level where we can make a relevant impact. And where hopefully it then inspires multiplication in other communities globally.

    Thanks for this Friday inspiration!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I love that advice from Lloyd too! Thank you so much for listening and amplifying the message. You do so much where you are – you are truly a testament to how much difference one can make! Thanks, Ab!

      Liked by 1 person

  23. All of us can make a difference for sure Wynne. It’s mind-blowing about how much you can do where you are, with what you have. This is indeed an inspiring message. Thanks so much for sharing my friend. 🤗🙏🏼🥰

    Liked by 1 person

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