Catalysts: Find One. Be One. Change Your World.
“Painful as it may be, a significant emotional event can be the catalyst for choosing a direction that serves us – and those around us – more effectively. Look for the learning.” ~ Louisa May Alcott
Merriam Webster defines catalyst as:
1: a substance that enables a chemical reaction to proceed at a usually faster rate or under different conditions (as at a lower temperature) than otherwise possible
2: an agent that provokes or speeds significant change or action
It’s that second version that counts here.
From the secular to the spiritual, catalysts go by many names: Leader, Change Agent, Activist, Organizer, Mentor, Coach, Teacher, Parent, Nature, Bodhisattva, Saint, Guru, Yogi(ni). Two other names you might be more familiar with: You and Me.
Whether here at The New Pursuit or at many of the fantastic blogs I enjoy, I’ve talked a lot about the importance of catalysts – finding one, being one – for transforming not only our own lives, but the Life of the World around us and the beautiful planet we are privileged to call Home.
Catalysts are all around us. Sure, there are those whose names are more top of mind, but many live in quiet humility, changing the world around them one breath, one simple action at a time. Big or small, famous or anonymous, catalysts share similar traits. They:
- Put Others Before Themselves. Catalysts are selfless, caring more about the betterment of those around them and knowing that their own growth is multiplied exponentially through these actions.
- Dwell in Love. Maybe it’s one of the Three Spheres of Love, maybe it’s all three. Regardless, catalysts know that Love is the defining element of our entire existence – creating it, sharing it, bringing it out in others.
- Know the Power of Small Things. A smile, a “hello”, a hug, a word of encouragement, a donation, an hour out of their day – catalysts know that some of the best gifts are immaterial and come in the smallest of packages.
- Can Connect Dots and See the Bigger Picture. Catalysts have an amazing ability to rise above the surface of things and see out to the horizon. They know how to thread together seemingly disparate things into the Fabric of Change.
- Have Patience and Perseverance. Catalysts accept that change doesn’t happen overnight. Still, they remain steadfast in their conviction that their world is in need of changing for the better. They have faith and persevere through the ups, downs, bumps and bruises of leading those they care about through it.
The beautiful thing is: We can all find a catalyst — a person, a cause to get behind — to help bring about that “significant change” in our lives. Further, we can all be a catalyst. We all possess the innate ability to change our own life and the Life of the World around us.
Even better: You don’t need any special training or an advanced degree. You don’t need to be super rich or powerful (in the corporate capitalist sense). You just need to love, care and foster those traits we talked about above. We cultivate these traits taking steps to live deeply each day. It’s a combination of being and doing, engaged in bettering ourselves and everything around us – from people to places to the planet and all who call it Home.
Need some inspiration? Try these out for size:
- LIFE // You might have heard of folks like Leo, Everett, Tammy and Joshua. But what about Courtney, Sandi and Katie? Beyond blogs, there are a lot of great books out there too. One of my favorites is Narrative of the Life by Frederick Douglass.
- NATURE // The best way to get inspired here is just to get outside and soak in all that vibrant life that is teeming all around you. It doesn’t matter how or for how long, just do it. When you’re ready to read, check out Lynn, Majeeda, or Kathy. For an amazingly inspirational book, grab a copy of Gary Snyder’s Pulitzer Prize winning Turtle Island. This should be on everyone’s bookshelf.
- BEING // Beyond practicing mindfulness and tapping your own innate inspiration, you can definitely get your fill by checking out Raam, Ali, Sandra or Ian. When you’re ready to curl up on the couch, I highly recommend Peace is Every Step by Thich Nhat Hahn.
Inspiration is at every turn. Change comes with every moment. Peace and right prosperity is here for everyone. The world just needs that “substance” — that’s us — to embrace it.
Be well,
Bill
Thanks for stopping by. If you enjoyed this post, please consider sharing it via Twitter or another social media outlet. Even better, consider subscribing to The New Pursuit to get future updates delivered right to you. While you’re here you might also enjoy these other posts:
- Deep Living 101: A Quick-Start Guide to Pursuing Your Own Path
- 101 Ways to Escape the TV Trap and Enjoy Life More
- Challenging the Throwaway Culture of Convenience
[image: Metrix X]
I agree — inspiration is at every turn. Be the change you want to see in the world.
This is a great post. You always do a nice job.
Gip
Gip // Many thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. I appreciate the nod. Be well!
Beautifully written, Bill. I agree, every one of us is a catalyst with the potential for personal and social change. Thanks for the mention!
Well, it looks like everyone’s putting an extra hour into their posts today
Agree with Lynn… that was a nice read. Love it when simple thoughts can be expanded into detail and still read coherently. I have trouble with this myself (I’m not fishing for compliment
Thanks for the mention too – it was funny because I had read the first two paragraphs when you mentioned everyone else and I was thinking “I wonder if I’m going to be in here?” and my ego got a bit involved. I calmed myself and said “you’re not going to be dissapointed if you’re not!” but it was fine, there I was.
We are all catalysts on some level or another. Positively, neutrally or negatively… fluctuating.
In the digital age our potential for being a catalyst might even be larger – I’m not totally sure. Definitely so when combined with real action.
I am just taking a break from writing – I found this post of yours which I nearly missed and I think it’s amazing how the time is, once again, so great. Perhaps you’ll see what I mean when I post later (perhaps later today).
Yeah – we can all find those people and be those people in others lives too. I like your choice of words too, catalyst is a great word to use.
I think if I was going to query anything it would be the ‘selfless’ aspect. I’m not saying I disagree, only that in my opinion you have to take care with that sort of thing. Being selfless relies on one being ‘healthy’ enough to know when to step back and take time for yourself. Not everyone can manage that. Or it relies on others being ‘good’ enough not to take too much from you – and that simply isn’t realistic in my experience. However, like I said, that is not to say that there is something wrong with compassion of being selfless itself. It’s more in the practical application that it can get skewed.
I loved what you said about “It’s a combination of being and doing, engaged in bettering ourselves and everything around us” and you are so right – you don’t need a degree!! Anyone can do it!!
So inspiring. Thank you! (& thanks for the mention too
)
Hi Majeeda // Thanks for the thoughtful reflection here. Your point about the “precursors” of practicing selflessness is well taken. If selflessness is the proverbial house we live in, it must be built upon a solid foundation — the core of self — in order to be strong and withstand all that gets thrown at it. We cannot be good for others if we are not good to our selves first. Taking care of ourselves — physically, mentally, spiritually — is an investment that pays many dividends!
Ali // It IS interesting to think how the digital age and technology can help cast the net (no pun intended) of the catalyst wider. Sometimes I get on the fence about that — thinking about the fine line between technology being a help vs. being a hindrance. It’s all up to the user, I suppose.
Thanks, Lynn. I appreciate the kind words. Be well!
I’m only now catching up to my reader items, but THANK YOU for mentioning me here.
Loved this post and I loved your list of catalysts traits!
No worries, Raam. Your words need to be heard. I’m glad we’ve been able to connect!
Great list of blogs to follow Bill.
Kevin Rose and Leo Babauta also recommend Peace is Every Step by Thich Nhat Hahn, so after seeing this third recommendation I really must read it!
Hi Jay // You know, you can’t go wrong with any book by Thay. Peace Is Every Step is a good one to start with though. Such a simple and profound message. Enjoy!
Wow. I just found your blog through Upcycled Love. You have so many thought provoking ideas. I am just starting my green journey, literally, I am about one month in. But now that I am on it, it feels like I am walking in a different world, with different glasses on. What I used to take for granted seems so irrational to me (for example, walking through a box store fills me with anxiety at all the consumerism, packaging and convience items for sale). The day I first woke up was November 3rd. On November 4th I put one word on my FB status – catalyst.
I so want to use my life in this way. I am going to continue reading your work, you are very inspiring.
On the Upcycled Love interview you mention your children are your insiration. Mine are for me too.
Hi Sherry // Thanks so much for stopping by and taking time to leave a note! Congrats on starting your journey. That is fantastic! Take it one day at a time and things will work out just fine. I think your metaphor of ‘looking at the world with different glasses on’ hits the nail on the head. That’s the eye-opening, spirit-piercing epiphany that I, Lynn and many others are writing about.
Just took a spin around your blog. Fantastic. (I love air drying our clothes on the clothesline! Almost meditative in a way!) Keep it up! You might want to think about installing some sort of share feature so that your readers can more easily spread your work. There’s good stuff in there!
Be well!
I can name PLENTY of sparks to my internal combustion, and I’m very much hoping to catalyze more chemical, mental, and environmental changes!!
I’m so glad I found you, Bill. Have a wonderful day, and please stay safe!
Jeanie — Thanks. DItto.
While at dinner last week, Raam and I were talking about how amazing it has been to connect with so many like-minded people through this lovely thing call the inter-webs. I believe that people are connected for reasons (that we might not always realize at first).
Yesterday’s storm was mostly freezing rain (on top of the snow we had); nothing like what the mid-west was getting. I can’t remember a winter like this in years; makes me feel like a kid again! Be well!