Can one person change the world?

1. 61

   anancelesteposted 11 years ago

   Can one person change the world?
   
   

   replyreport
2. 91

   Gcrhoads64posted 11 years ago

   Yes. Jesus, Hitler, Gandhi, Mohammed and Buddha, to name just a few, all had profound impacts on the world.

   replyreport
3. 50

   whonunuwhoposted 11 years ago

   Absolutely, and it happens often.The good things that happen and the bad, may both be brought about by one act of kindness or one act of terror. The scriptures of the Bible and those of other faiths have great examples of how one changed the world, and most to a wonderful degree of loving kindness. One of the most gratifying results of evil acts is the fact that often more good comes about in the long run, just as our God has intended it to happen.

   replyreport
4. 0

   KEPitzposted 11 years ago

   Absolutely! It happens all the time. By simply being kind to someone today, you could influence the events that follow, which changes everything to follow that, and so on, and so on. Even small, seemingly insignificant choices can have a powerful impact that changes the future of everything! (Actually, it's pretty cool to think about it, huh?)

   replyreport
   1. 0

      Moeskyposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      With 7 billion people all influencing each other's lives constantly...it's more than just cool - it's mind-blowing to think about. The world is in a state of change every single moment of time.

      replyreport
5. 60

   ytsenohposted 11 years ago

   The popular phrase, "change begins with you," speaks loudly.  Love your attached image.  Albert Einstein said, "The world as we have created it is a process of our thinking. It cannot be changed without changing our thinking.”
   
   Very true.  So then, change begins with each of us, individually.  Everything we say and do is certainly an influence to someone in our circles or home life.  The teachings of all the greatest leaders have had very solid effects around the world, so Gcrhoads64's response is right on.

   replyreport
6. 72

   stanwshuraposted 11 years ago

   By definition, *everyone* can and does change the world, no matter how small, trivial or temporary such changes may seem or be.

   replyreport
7. 36

   wqaindiaposted 11 years ago

   GOD, that is Generator, Operator and Destroyer, can do change the world in seconds and it may not be possible for me to complete the answer itself, if HE does not want it to be. It is also argued that natural calamities like  Tsunami, Earthquakes and Volcano are also the handiwork of GOD almighty to bring about equilibrium in natural imbalances. If we talk of persons then it is quite possible for all right or left thinking persons to have followers in the name of religion or politics only. Only Scientists and Researchers can change the world through their inventions which may be put to use or abuse.

   replyreport
8. 68

   Emanate Presenceposted 11 years ago

   
   
   Just for the fun of it, to answer your question I looked up 'the butterfly effect' and learned something new. I had a vague idea that it means that whatever we think or do has an effect. It is from chaos theory, and the article I browsed says, 'The name of the effect, coined by Edward Lorenz, is derived from the theoretical example of a hurricane's formation being contingent on whether or not a distant butterfly had flapped its wings several weeks before.'
   
   So yes, one person does have an effect on the world, does change it in one sense, does make it a different place, simply by living and breathing.
   
   If you refer to one person being the catalyst for social change, yes of course, we do that too. To explore that further, I will share that while researching for one of my hubs (Expanding Awareness for a Change of Heart) I learned that the quote attributed to Gandhi, "Be the change you want to see in the world," was actually written by a marketing person to fit onto a bumper sticker.
   
   It is not enough to change oneself, and see significant, global social change, yet changes brought through force or activism without personal transformation is empty and short-lived.
   
   Your question does not ask, however, if one person has an effect on the world or if one person can make a difference. You ask if one person can change the world.
   
   To answer that truly, I would have to understand what you mean by change the world. One thing I know is that change is already upon us, worldwide, and we will see changes whether we are part of it or not. This is still fresh in my energy field, as I have just completed a video-poem to go with an article for a new hub, 'Aquarium: Dawning of the Age of Transformation.'
   
   Also, I have asked the question in Questions, 'What is your take on the global changes we are undergoing and co-creating?' When I was writing the question on HubPages, your question showed up!
   
   Thank you for asking, ananceleste. How would you answer your question?

   replyreport
9. 68

   Emanate Presenceposted 11 years ago

   Meaningful human transformation comes not over head knowledge but by experiential understanding of lived wholeness. This change is one that changes real, when change inside I truly feel. read more

   replyreport
10. 59

    nirupamatuppariposted 11 years ago

    yes one person can change the world, one person good works good ideals good policies can change the complete world

    replyreport
11. 59

    Kevin Peterposted 11 years ago

    One person alone cannot change the entire world. But he can contribute a lot to the society in which he lives. There are many such examples of people who lived around us and have brought about a lot of changes.

    replyreport
12. 73

    SidKempposted 11 years ago

    Each of us does change the world. Each of us, each moment of our lives, is in exactly the right place at exactly the right time to make the maximal impact, given who we are. Each moment, there is a lesson to be learned, and a gift of love to be given. Give the love, learn the lesson.
    
    When we listen within, we are guided to where we are meant to be. When we do not listen, we make a wrong turning we need to make. Listen again, love, and turn in the right direction.
    
    Each smile, each kind thought, saves the world.
    
    Awesome graphic, by the way!

    replyreport
13. 0

    Rayne123posted 11 years ago

    Well I think one person can start a chain reaction to changing the world. It starts with ourselves.
    
    However one person alone cannot change the world, one can have an impact or enhance the ideas of others, but changing the world on your own is impossible if we do not have others to follow.
    
    I think as mentioned below, these famous people or should I say famous quotes had ideas on the world changes, in hopes that these tools would be used for just that.
    
    Jesus yes can change the world/will change the world but Jesus has the power to do so, the power to give anyone to do us, was able to predict the future.
    
    God gave us all free will and also equipped us with tools to fix whatever we want, however we chose to use the tools  for our own destruction, as we see.
    
    No matter how many people come up with ideas to change the world, if we do not follow as one it only goes as far as listening then it goes back to hatred.
    
    Its like paying it forward, if one person pays if forwards and starts the chain, it only goes as far as that one person that stops the chain.
    
    So with all that said, I believe that it takes all humans to unite together literally to make a change to the world that Jesus wanted us to.
    
    In the end the world will be changed, a brand new world, however God is going to make the change and rule the world. We used our free will against God so he will  pour out his wrath and make the change.
    
    No matter what happens here on end, God is in control and the world will endure under his control.

    replyreport
14. 38

    Borsiaposted 11 years ago

    There are people, good and evil, who can form a nucleus around which others gather eventually becoming powerful enough to change the world, such as a Hitler.
    Then there are individuals with great imagination and ideas that change the world through their inventions, some even through their ideals. Though they do not change it or bring it about alone.

    replyreport