The United Nations is Following my Tweets!
Often people ask me, does social media really work? It takes so much time, does it pay off? Is anyone really listening? There are times when the “mind viruses” even get to me and I question myself, wondering whether I can accomplish all I have set out to do.
Last night, I went to see Deepak Chopra speak in Montreal. He was outstanding and incredibly inspirational, as anyone knows who has seen him live. This morning I was reminded of his “Seven Laws of Success”. In particular, I was thinking of his sixth law, the Law of Detachment:
Allow yourself and others the freedom to be who they are. Do not force solutions-allow solutions to spontaneously emerge. Uncertainty is essential on your path to freedom.
As I try to detach from any particular outcome of my work, with the highest intention and hope that I can help others, I continue to post blog articles and communicate them through social media. This morning, I posted on Twitter an article on Smart Follow-ship that a good friend, Corry Robertson, and talented business coach had written for my site. Shortly afterward, I received a notification that the United Nations (UN) was following me on Twitter. “Holy cow”, I thought. Talk about the need to keep your social ducks in a row!
As I discussed in my article, The Dalai Lama is Following my Tweets, I am astounded at the potential of this new media to reach people and organizations that couldn’t have been imagined a couple of years ago. I am also in awe of the responsibility that this brings. As Cory writes in her article,
“The paradox that is created through social media is that the leader has the unavoidable evidence that the following is engaged and it forces him to continue to earn the esteem of those whom are emulating him. He fuels us and we fuel him. The bar is raised as science and technology unite the leadership and follower-ship.”
Derek Sivers, in this video, explains the important nature of follow-ship in starting a movement. “If the leader is the flint, the first follower is the spark that really makes the fire”.
Last night, Deepak explained how, “It is our perceptions that create our reality, not our reality that creates our perceptions”. So we must believe in what we are doing and creating. To me, the notice that the UN was following me was a positive sign to continue to believe in the path of my Dharma. Deepak’s seventh law, the Law of Dharma:
Seek your higher Self. Discover your unique talents. Ask yourself how you are best suited to serve humanity. Using your unique talents and serving others brings unlimited bliss and abundance.
I’m comforted and inspired by the idea that we don’t all need to be the leader to help make change happen. We ‘followers’ have an equally powerful role to play when we wholeheartedly leap into inspired action.
So, when we encounter a good idea, whether it comes from Deepak Chopra, the U.N., the Dancing Guy, or someone in our own community, embrace it. Spread it. Be selfless, be fearless, and BE the change. Think ‘how can I serve?’ instead of ‘what’s in it for me?’ Each time you do so, you make it easier for others to follow – so do not think yourself small and underestimate your power to make a difference. As Gandhi once said, “In a gentle way, you can shake the world.”
I’ll definitely be following your future posts!
By the way, there’s another great video called The Free Hug Campaign that demonstrates the power of a movement:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vr3x_RRJdd4
Thank you Shauna. Followers/leaders, we are two sides of the same coin, both with an important role to play. I love the video, and so did over 58 million others who viewed it!! Tell me this is not a movement in itself!