How inner ripples change the world

Each of us has the potential to be a walking, talking, mobile point of positive impact. But taking full advantage of that possibility isn’t just about our efforts in the world around us. It’s also about making a difference inside as well. Creating inner ripples, if you will.

Inner ripples are the result of anything that has an internal impact, positive or negative. That impact might be temporary (like me turning into Mr. Crankypants after an ill-advised sugar binge and the ensuing crash), or it could be deeper and longer lasting (like the change in the brain’s wiring an ongoing meditation practice creates).

Bringing a focus on inner ripples into our approach to making a difference isn’t about being self-centered or self-indulgent. It’s about taking a whole systems view.

At the heart of that system is…you! All the ways you have ever made a difference, and all the ways you ever will make a difference, have one thing in common – they originate with you. And what is happening in your inner world inevitably affects the ripples you set in motion outside.

The power of inner ripples

The inner ripples you create can affect the impact you have in the world in numerous ways. For example:

Your experience

There is no static, objective way we experience the world around us. What is going on internally has a powerful effect on how we interpret and experience everything. (Ever been hangry? Then you know what I’m talking about.)

How you show up

How we interpret and experience everything, in turn, shapes how we show up in our day to day life – which is where much of our potential for positive impact occurs.

It affects what we do and how we do it, how we respond to others, and more.

Ever tried being patient and understanding when you’re feeling drained and overloaded? How about being present and attentive when you’re feeling frazzled and discombooberated?

Creating inner ripples that shift you into a better state (e.g., getting more sleep, or taking five minutes to slow down and focus on your breath) can ultimately shift your ability to do things like being patient or attentive as well.

Access to your inner resources

Emotions like stress, fear, or anxiety stimulate your brain’s threat response. One of the results of that threat response (figuratively speaking) is that it takes the part of your brain offline that is responsible for, for example, rational thinking, problem solving, and seeing things from different perspectives.

The effect of that is reduced access to some of your brain’s most helpful resources.

Anything you do that helps dial down that threat response not only helps you feel better, it helps you bring more of your gifts and abilities to whatever you do.

Your action

Your inner world also has an impact on your willingness and ability to take action.

 For example, if the inner ripples you create with an ongoing self-critical monologue erode your belief in yourself, that also reduces your likelihood of trying something new and potentially failing.

On the other hand, if you have created inner ripples through a repeated habit of pausing and saying, “OK, what can I learn here?” any time you fail, the resulting relationship to trying something new and unfamiliar would be much more conducive to giving it a shot.

Try this: Start with what you already know. What ways of creating positive inner ripples have you already done that you find helpful? Here are a couple examples to prime the pump.

• Taking a break and walking around the block.
• Taking some deep, slow breaths.
• Giving someone a compliment (doing something good often has a positive internal effect as well).
• Making a gratitude list.
• Watching a cat video. (I kid you not! There’s research on this!)

Do an experiment over the next week. Once a day (or more) take action to create those inner ripples. See what effect they have.

You’re creating inner ripples all the time, whether you realize it or not. The goal is to get more intentional and consistent about the kinds of inner ripples you create. And that can start with this one small step.