Change Self, Change Others

I've once read a story of an east mystic that he prayed to God that he wanted to change the world. After 10 years nothing happened. So, he then prayed to change the people around him. After 10 years, still nothing happened. So, he then prayed to change himself, suddenly, the very next day, the people around him started to change. Then after that the world started to change. He said to himself, "If he had known his, he would have save himself 20 years of praying."

At first I thought this is just a story to initiate change in oneself. Then again I decided to test it myself. True as it is, once when I change. The world starts to change. I learn in a very short time, (not 20 years, thank God) that in order to be an agent of change, you must change first. You must change the way you look at life, the people around you and the things that you do. The irony of change is that, it is easy said then done.

Then again if you really want to and by looking at the benefit of changing will bring to you, it will drive you to change. Sometimes, we decided to change after a certain cataclysmic event that really shattered our ideal world. Sometimes, it is triggered by some new idea or perspective.

Changes that occurred by an event is something that involves divine intervention and the introduction of a different perspective. Sometime a certain event never does anything to one person. He/She, still decided to follow the trail that he/she use to rather then looking at different path.

I believe that people that changes due to the introduction of new ideas are people who reads, mix around a lot people and they have an open mind. Because for them, in life is not a classroom. There is no right and wrong answer in life, unless, it is clearly stated in Islam. Like what our holy prophet said when asked about some of his companion had done cross-pollination to boost the produce of dates. He simply said that this is his worldly deals that he/she knows best.

But ever since we were at school, we were trained to be a good pupils by been told which is right and wrong, we began to loose our perspective that, there are many things out there which has not right or wrong answer. We began to develop a notion that being in a crowd is right and being different is wrong. Hence the word 'Normal'. No there is nothing wrong being normal, as we considered ourselves a normal human being if we look some or rather like everybody else. If we were to have more (three arms) or less (one eye); we are considered abnormal.

What I mean by being different is, we do things differently. Yeah, it nears the edge of insanity but that is the feeling of being different. You felt out of place in society. You become abnormal in sense of doing things your way. You decided to follow a different path.

Strangely, at first you think that you're the only 'crazy pot' out there but then after sometime, you discovered that you aren't alone. People who think alike then to be attracted to each other. No matter what is their present distance now. That also explain the sudden distance you beginning to felt with those who thinks differently from you!

Now you began to see the people you attract. These are the people you starts to mingle with more. This enforced the change you decided to adopt. Suddenly, the people around you change! Your thinking also changes, the words you use, changes; you then began to realise that when you change you will also infect other to think differently. Cause you kept bombarding the new idea that you embrace, no matter what other people said. When the people around you changes, suddenly, the world you living in will starts to change.

Ironic aspect of this change, it could also be a negative or disruptive effect as it is for positive or constructive effect.