Recent events, both local and international, have reminded me of a simple but powerful truth: energy flows where attention goes.
What quality would you like to see more of in the world?
What do you want more of? Peace? Understanding? Compassion? Empathy? Community?
This is where you need to put your attention. I get more of what I focus on. You get more of what you focus on.
Imagine it first. It’s easy if you try.
Here’s a simple, progressively more challenging way to practice this.
Part one
1️⃣ Imagine yourself being the very quality you want to see more of in the world. If you want to see more love, imagine yourself being loving. If you want a kinder world, imagine yourself being kind. The place to start is with yourself.
Every day, take a few minutes to imagine yourself being this quality — more loving, more kind, more compassionate, and so on — with those closest to you. Begin with your family and close friends.
Part two
Once you feel comfortable with this first group, 2️⃣ expand to a second: people you know less well. This might include neighbours, work colleagues, or the shop attendant. In your mind’s eye, imagine yourself being this way. Give yourself permission to make it your mandate to be this quality, no matter what. Even in your imagination, when you notice yourself reacting differently in difficult circumstances, gently bring your focus back to the quality you wish to see more of.
After all, it’s as simple as using your imagination.
Part three
When you feel ready, expand to a third group. 3️⃣ This is where the real challenge begins. These are people who are very different from you. Perhaps they speak a different language, dress differently, follow a different religion, have a different skin colour, or support a different political party or leader. There will be something about them that would normally make it difficult for you to imagine being the quality you want to see more of in the world.
The real test
For example, how do you feel about the current leader of the country you live in? Can you imagine yourself being your desired quality towards this person?
If not, then this is the work. This is the simple gift of the exercise.
No matter who or what it is, until you can, with conscious neutrality, imagine yourself being the quality, you will not be able to act it out in the real world.
Making the world a better place starts with me. It starts with you. It starts with each one of us imagining and focusing on the qualities we want to see more of in the world.
What becomes possible?
If I commit to this work, and you commit to this work, for just a few minutes each day, then a fundamental shift begins to occur.
If we train our attention on the quality we wish to see more of in the world, and if we imagine ourselves being that quality, even toward those who hook us or trigger us the most, then something profound occurs. We change the inner field from which our actions arise.
When enough of us consciously redirect our focus in this way, the collective reality must follow. Because energy flows where attention goes.
This is practical, creative power. If you make your inner world a better place, you will make your outer world a better place. And if we all do this, consistently and regularly, then the world becomes a better place too.
The only thing left to ask is: What more would you like to see in the world?
An update to an earlier article
This article was updated in May 2026 to include the Quality of being meditation and visualisation exercise.
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