How to Leave a Positive Footprint on the World – One Good Habit at a Time

The point of life is to leave a positive footprint on the world.  The idea is that when you die, the world will be somewhat better because you existed.  And the only way to leave that kind of positive footprint is to make being “good” a daily habit.

Realize that good habits are powerful!  That’s because our impact on the world isn’t based on any singular act that we do.  Rather, our impact on the world comes from what we do on a daily basis.  As a result, our footprint in the world will be the result of our daily habits.

So, if we want to leave a positive footprint on the world, we need to ensure that we have the “right” kind of habits.  Below are good daily habits that you can adopt so that you leave behind the most beautiful footprint on this earth.

Practice Small Acts of Kindness Every Day

Over the years, I’ve reached the conclusion that kindness isn’t an action.   Rather, it’s a way of being.  Kind people are kind all day long, in big and small ways.  That’s their habit.  As a result, if they behave in a way that isn’t kind, it doesn’t feel right to them.

The beauty of spending your life being kind is that you ultimately will leave an exceptional footprint on this earth.  All who encounter you will be blessed by having spent even a small amount of time with you.  The question then is this: How do we make kindness a habit so that being kind becomes part of our very being?

Well, the key is to practice small acts of kindness throughout the day.  Offer small compliments.  Hold open the door for others.  Send a supportive note or message to a friend or family member.

And be consistently kind.  You want to be the type of person who people can count on to be kind.  All the time.  Being a kind person means that kindness is your habit.  It’s who you are no matter how you’re feeling, or whether you’re having a good or bad day.  When kindness is your habit, your life becomes a blessing to all.

Give Others Your Full Attention

We’ve unfortunately become a very selfish society.  Most people are so focused on their own needs, that they don’t even hear the other folks around them.  Don’t be like that. 

If you want to have a positive impact on others, then choose to really listen to others.  Listen carefully, even if you don’t agree with the other person.  And then after you listen, respond thoughtfully and with wisdom. 

For instance, over the years, I’ve had some tough conversations.  And during many of those conversations, I didn’t agree with what the other person was saying.  But in every conversation, I did my best to simply listen and hear what the other person had to say. 

Now, of course, not every conversation will have a positive end.  Sometimes, you just can’t agree with another person’s perspective.  That’s OK.  You don’t have to make it your habit to agree with everybody.  Rather, to be a positive force in the world, you simply have to make it your habit to really listens to others.  When you do so, you’ll make others feel seen and valued, and that is a beautiful gift.

Make It Your Habit to Choose Words That Build Others Up

When I was a child, they used to have a saying, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.”  But the truth of the matter is that our words can hurt others.  But unfortunately, we’ve become a society in which many folks use their words in a careless and hurtful manner. 

If you want to be someone who leaves a positive footprint on this earth, be someone who is careful with your words.  Make it your habit to speak gently.  Use your words to encourage others.  Regularly build other people up with a kind observation or compliment.

The truth of the matter is that it’s easy to be unkind.  It doesn’t take brains to insult others, be aggressive or demean.  But realize that is the way that average individuals behave.  If you want to be someone superior, someone who truly makes the world a better place, then make it your habit to use your words to build others up at every opportunity. 

Express Gratitude Freely and Often

A lot of people don’t express gratitude because they mistakenly feel entitled.  They think, “Well, heck!  That person should be doing X for me.”  But realize that once you become an adult, no one should be doing anything for you.  And every last thing that anyone does for you is a gift which deserves thanks. 

So, if your spouse cooks you a meal, that deserves a “thank you.”  Similarly, if your colleague at work helps you on a project, that likewise should inspire a word of thanks.  None of us are owed anything in life, so truly every last thing another person does for us is a gift that merits a word of appreciation.

Be mindful that gratitude is what makes our relationships flow more smoothly.  When we’re grateful, other people feel appreciated by us.  Moreover, a simple “thank you,” can make another person feel like they’ve been useful.  Gratitude truly can lift the spirits of others in so many ways.

I try to be mindful to express gratitude whenever I can.  For instance, I can go to a restaurant, be served food, pay for my meal and leave.  But what a hollow experience that would be!  It’s so much better to thank the person who serves me, pay a compliment to the chef, and make the lives of other people a little bit better just by my expressing my thanks.

So, make gratitude a habit!  Say “thank you” at every opportunity.  Don’t go through life with an attitude of entitlement.  Instead, leave a good footprint by expressing your thanks to anyone who does something nice for you.

Respect Living Beings

We have two choices with how we can treat animals and nature.  One, we can view animals and nature as being here for our use (and abuse).  Or, alternatively, we can view animals and nature like a mother views her child.  With a desire to nurture and protect.

If you want to leave a positive footprint on this earth, I’d urge you to take Option 2.  Be someone who nurtures and protects animals and nature. 

Our callousness toward animals and nature simply isn’t good for the world.  So, we each should have the goal of eliminating all suffering in the world, whether it’s human suffering, animal suffering or environmental suffering.  Because a world with less suffering is simply a better world for everyone.

Over the last several decades, my view of what it means to nurture and protect animals has evolved.  I now am a pescatarian, because I don’t want my diet to contribute to the killing of farm animals.  I try to recycle and compost in an attempt to limit the amount of trash I put into landfills.  And I have a dog, cat and bunny who are all rescue animals, in an attempt to do my part to care for our world’s most vulnerable pets.

Are my attempts at respecting all living creatures and nature perfect?  No.  But I keep thinking about how I can improve how I treat all animals and nature so that my footprint on this earth can be as gentle as possible.

And that is the key to leaving a positive “global” footprint.  We each need to give some thought to our actions, and we need to consider how our actions impact other living creatures and the earth.  And then we need to try to make “good” choices so that we are as gentle and respectful as possible toward all living things.

Be a Gentle Soul

By far, the best habit that you can adopt to make a positive footprint in the world is to be gentle.  In a world full of aggression and meanness, you truly can make a profound difference simply by behaving in a calm and gentle manner.

Now, I’ll concede that being gentle is not popular in today’s society.  These days, we value noisy individuals.  Just look at our politicians.  They are unashamedly loud and aggressive.  In our society, angry, bullying behavior is sadly accepted.

If you want your life to make a positive difference in the world, I’d implore you to reject that kind of behavior.  Instead, choose to be a calm, thoughtful, gentle individual.  Be someone who acts wisely and kindly.  In short, be the kind of person who your spouse, children, and colleagues can admire.

In my own life, I try to model gentleness.  Admittedly, I don’t always succeed, and sometimes I can get upset or be irritated.  But my goal is to be a superior individual.  And that means that my priority is to be a gentle soul.  I want to be a model of wisdom and kindness for others, both at work and at home.  And I truly want others to feel steadier and calmer in my presence.

If you are seeking to leave a positive footprint on the world, consider adopting the habits above.  Be the kind of person who goes through life with wisdom, taking good care in how you treat other people, other creatures and the earth.  If you do so, you’ll be someone whose life truly was a blessing to all.