What Ripple Effect Do Your Actions Create?

The Jewish mystics, teach that every human deed has a cosmic significance. A Kabbalistic maxim states, “Awakening here below causes an awakening on High.” I’ve heard it more commonly and simple stated as “As below, so Above.”

I remembered this lesson and began thinking about it again after a session with one of my author coaching clients the other day, who was considering a related book idea. Kabbalah teaches that each person’s action contributes to restoring the balance of creation. Therefore, everything we do has the potential to harm or to repair the world. Repair of the world, or tikkun olam, is inherent to Jewish mystical teachings. It doesn’t matter if you perform religious acts, as in fulfilling the commandments, or do a simple good deed—call it an act of kindness, that action here on Earth sends a ripple affect through many “worlds” or universes. Just doing the “right thing,” being a righteous person, can make a difference energetically in the healing of humanity and the physical plane on which we live as well as on others. From a spiritual (or religious) perspective, the holier the deed, the more in harmony it is with creation. Thus, that action goes farther toward realigning this world with God’s original intentions.

You don’t have to be Jewish or understand Kabbalah to comprehend the importance of this concept. It’s pretty simple: What we do affects everything. Our actions create a ripple effect that goes far beyond our immediate lives.

Therefore, if we want to correct what is wrong in the world, we must act in ways that align with what we would like to see in the world. Our actions must become mirrors for those we would like to see performed by others. As below, so Above…and all around us. Indeed, what goes on Above showers down. Thus, the saying can as accurately be stated, “As Above, so below.”

Your Daily Actions

Take some time to think about this concept and to apply it to your daily activities. Pay attention. Do your actions align with the world as you’d like it to be? Do they harm or repair the world? Do you actions mirror the behavior you want to elicit in others?

If you’d like more peaceful world and one in which people are kinder, gentler and more loving and giving, consider:

how much time you spend watching movies or television shows that contain violence
how much time you spend reading thrillers or other books about crime
if you ever tithe or give money to charities or to those in need on the streets
how often you pray or meditate
if you have a tendency to judge, berate or condescend (or if you find such humor enjoyable)
whether you listen to depressing music or songs that contains harsh, violent or angry language rather than inspiring, calming and uplifting music
if you model tolerance at home and at work and teach it to your children
if you smile at strangers
if you ignore those who need assistance
if you speak up for the rights of others

Choose Your Actions Consciously

To create a positive ripple effect with your actions, you have to act consciously. You also may have to change some of your actions.

Over the last few years, for example, I’ve changed my television watching habits. I don’t watch much television, but when I do, I avoid shows with a lot of crime or that are based on violence. I also don’t spend tons of time focusing on the news. I try to stay informed, but news shows tends to only highlight what is bad, violent and negative. So, I read headlines or check the local news briefly once every day or two to know what is happening in the world. I also don’t watch many sitcoms because most make fun of people or put them down in some way.

I also try to give money to those on the street begging, and I taught my children to do the same. For many years, this was one of the few ways I could give charity. Most recently, my husband and I started tithing to our religious organization, and I plan to start tithing through my business as well this year. There are a few causes I support as well.

In general, I am looking daily at my behavior and my language. I want to be sure I mirror peace, love, generosity, and understanding. Sometimes that means stopping myself when I find myself judging someone else. Other times it means turning around and offering to help someone or to let a care in ahead of me in traffic when I am in a hurry and would rather just keep moving toward my next appointment or goal.

There are many ways to “be the change you want to see,” to paraphrase Mahatma Ghandi. We resort to kind words on Facebook when we want to stay in touch, sharing videos via our Twitter accounts in an attempt to support causes and text messages to tell someone we care. But we can do more. You can do more. I can do more.

How can you act more consciously so you create a ripple effect that will heal the world? Tell me in a comment.