Half the Sky: 3 Ways You Can Change The World Right Now

Hey, it’s Marie Forleo and you are watching Marie TV, the place to be to create a business and life you love. Today, I want to talk about something very important. One of the biggest questions I get asked is from viewers who want to make a difference. And here’s the question, “Marie, how do I make a difference? How do I do something bigger than myself if I don’t have that much time and I don’t have that much money?” Well, today, I have your answer.

I want to talk about what I believe to be the moral, economic and humanitarian issue of our time: the empowerment of women and girls. Back in 2009, I read a book called, “Half The Sky,” by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn, and I still believe that this is one of the most important books I’ve ever read in my life. A few months ago, I learned that they’ve taken this book and turned it into a documentary film, and I was fortunate enough to get an advanced screening, and it is spectacular. It’s a film that I believe every single human being on the planet needs to watch. Have a look.

The challenge that women and girls face around the world is not an easy topic to talk about, but we really think it is the moral challenge of the century.

These problems exist because we’ve created them, so it’s up to us to fix them.

The way that Nick and Cheryl used stories to break through the indifference that still exists when you talk about women and girls is exactly the right way to go about it.

Understand the story, always. This is how people get engaged.

Nick and I wanted to galvanize people into action because we know it takes a world to bring about this change. We’re utilizing every tool and platform available to get the message across.

We’re going to be going on a journey to some of the places in the world where the repression of women and girls is truly at its most extreme.

I read half this guy and I thought, “That’s really what I want to do.” I want to go and see things for myself.

You’ve had the traffickers hold a gun to your head.

You’re going to take their money. The girls is their money. Of course, they’re not happy with you.
It still does seem as if something is wrong if thousands of thousands of girls are getting raped. In all the Freetown, only one rapist is prostituted. [crosstalk 00:02:29].

You know what lasts longer than beauty?

[foreign language 00:00:02:33].

Being smart last a lot longer than being pretty.

This little hospital built on a garbage dump has since reduced maternal mortality rate of the women who come here to one quarter of the national average.

We need to be able to have our voices heard.

Our biggest challenge here is to create opportunities. Convince the mothers every single day of her existence that your daughter does not have to be bound by fate. She needs to be allowed the power to create her own fate.

Pretty powerful, huh? Here’s the reason I am so passionate about this work. Studies show that when women are economically empowered, everyone wins. Families are healthier. More kids go to school. There’s more idea capital in innovation and economies flourish. Here’s the thing. I am all for you achieving everything that you want, but there’s got to be more to your life than just achievement. You’ve got to have fulfillment and fulfillment comes when you contribute to others, when you give something of yourself to something beyond yourself. Here are three different ways that you can make a difference starting right now.

Number one, start with you. One way of giving to the world is fulfilling your own potential and taking advantage of the opportunities that you have available to you right now. One of the best things about seeing a film like, “Half the Sky,” is that it shines a light on all the incredible opportunities you have in this very moment. So if you have access to education, if you have a safe place to sleep every night, if you live in a place that you have the freedom to speak your mind, you have opportunities that others would and do die for. Ask yourself, what opportunities do you have around you right now? And how can you let that inspire you to fulfill your own potential? Living a great life creates a ripple effect around you. When you become more, you have more to give. You inspire more people just by being a living example of possibility. Now, I know starting with yourself may not seem like a way to give back, but it really is because when you change your life, you change the world.

Number two, use your voice. Okay. So this one is easy. Go watch the film. Watch it on PBS. If you can’t watch it on PBS, you can see clips on YouTube or halftheskymovement.org. We’re going to have links below to help you out. Then use your voice to spread the word. Choose just one person in your life and make a direct call. Whether it’s your mother or your brother or your sister or your girlfriend or your aunt or your grandmother, call one person and make them watch this film. If you like social media, you can get the word out that way. You can tweet. You can Facebook, anything you want. Once again, we’re going to help you out with links below. You have a voice, and if you’re watching this video right now, you have the freedom and the resources to share it. So use your voice and spread word.

Number three, get engaged. Do something. Choose an organization that you learn about in, “Half the Sky,” and get engaged. Whether you donate money or you donate time or just help by spreading awareness, do something. Don’t think you won’t make a difference doing one small thing. Think about it. There are thousands of people watching this Marie TV episode right now. Now, imagine if each of us chooses to do just one thing, that’s thousands of small actions added up together. There’s no way that’s not going to make a difference. As Margaret Meade once said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

So there you have it, three really doable ways to start making a difference right now. So here’s my challenge to you. Choose at least one of these ways and commit to taking action today. You can do more if you want, but I want you to commit to at least one and tell me about it in the comments below. As always, the best discussion happen after the episode at marieforleo.com. So go there and leave a comment now. Did you like this video? If so, subscribe to my channel and share it with your friends. This is such an important issue. I want you to share it all over the place. If you want more great resources to have a business and a life you love, plus personal insights from me that I only share in email, come on over to marieforleo.com and sign up for email updates. Stay on your game and keep going for your dreams. The world needs that special gift that only you have. Thank you so much for watching and I will see you next time on Marie TV.