Catalyst

Most things in life don't just happen by chance. Some person or event may trigger off a chain of actions that can lead us in  directions that we otherwise would not have followed. Such a trigger works as a catalyst to initiate change. This change can impact on the way our future unfolds. It can also impact on the lives of the people we come in contact with and even on the lives of those in distant places. Whether this change is constructive or not, depends on how we react to situations.

Reacting to events.  Sometimes bad events can be a catalyst for good, even life changing outcomes. Our lives may be governed by negative influences, drug or alcohol abuse, destructive friendships or negative self-image. Being suddenly faced with the results of a severe accident, bad health, loss of work, or failed exam can jolt us to reassess our situation and say, "OK. I need to make changes to turn this situation around and do things better". Bad situations then are not seen as excuses for failure, but opportunities to move in a new direction.

Preparing for the unexpected.  How we react to life changing situations may depend on how well we have prepared ourselves. The skills that we learn may provide us with a way of earning a living, but they could also provide us with the knowledge and expertise that could be vital in helping someone else cope with situations which have left their future looking very insecure, even desperate.

Starting the change process.  So often we look at a hopeless situation and think how terrible it is. We may even say that something should be done to change the situation, yet feel powerless to help and so do nothing. But lots of people making a small contribution can have a big impact. Sometimes it just takes one person saying, "let's make a difference here", to encourage others to get involved.

The impact of one.  Many successful, even famous people can look back on their life and identify one person who made a significant impact on how their lives turned out. It may have been someone who was a role model, someone who stood by them when they were in trouble, or simply someone who reaffirmed their sense of self worth. We may never know how important we have been in shaping someone else's life. But we can know we are making a difference if we value everyone as a unique individual.

By equipping ourselves with skills, and by being prepared to step in and be involved with people in our own and the wider community, we too can become a catalyst of worth: a dynamic force for constructive change.