Be the Change You Want to See in the World

Gandhi said, “You must be the change you want to see in the world.” If you live in a utopian belly dance communities where sharing and sisterhood is common, this will be easy for you because you have support and people working with you to create the same ideal world. If you don’t, I think it’s even more important that you do your part to banish negativity and create goodness among your peers, customers, and students.

How many of us complain about how controlling someone is? We see power struggles, cheating, back stabbing and lies. Yet how many of us confront this? How many are offering something different? If negativity reigns unchecked, that’s the only option to choose from.

It’s hard to stand as the lone voice of disagreement, but trust me, there are others who prefer ethics, fair dealing, and honesty. If you stand together, you can create an alternative to ugliness. You don’t have to fight it head on. Just give people another choice. The easiest way to defeat negativity is through love, kindness, and choice. Everyone wants to feel validated, appreciated, and worthwhile. Surround yourself with people who make you feel that way you want to feel and return that. It goes a long way.

So, the next time you are frustrated with being treated badly or with how someone else is bringing the belly dance community down, take a deep breath, center yourself and lead by example. Be the change you want to see in the world.