There are those who say that we can create the world we want if we really try and, to a large degree, that is true. But “we” is plural. As individuals, we can change our own circumstances, but not that of others around us. Even if it were possible to change other people and make them behave as we would like them to, we have no authority to do that. Each of us must make his own decision to change, to grow, or not.

    We generally don't have a problem with this when we see a person who is totally lost, so caught up in materialism, intellectualism, or self-doubts that it is really impossible to save him, we shrug our shoulders and move on. But when we see people, especially friends and relatives, who have gone a little astray, or who are seeking, but not finding, we want to change them. That is not a bad thing, but there are right ways and wrong ways to help.

    Trying to control others with things like positive thinking and visualizing others doing what we want them to is manipulation, control, and it is no more proper than the type of brain washing used by the Nazis and the cold war era Soviet Union.

    We help others to awaken to their spiritual side by being an example to them. When they see how we are improving in health, attitude, knowledge, etc. and they ask, then tell them, teach them. If they don't know how to handle a situation, tell them how you would handle it or, better yet, teach them to open up to their deep inner voice that can help guide (note that I said the deep inner voice because there is also a shallow inner voice which is just the ego). And when we think someone is heading in the wrong direction, suggest another path.

    And sometimes, changing the world happens in the background, unnoticed. A group meeting to pray for peace in the world, another meditating on love and tolerance. This things do have an effect and, when enough of it happens, it will help people to change and the world to change.  I know this sounds a lot like usuing the positive thinging and visulization that I said was wrong, but the differance is you are praying for the world as a whole and people in genral to be more peaceful, more loving, you are not trying to control certain individuals.