Recently, I had a conversation with friends about the state of the country, and the global mess it appears that we’re in. And after awhile, I asked, "So what can we do?" Immediately the conversation turned around to living with love and appreciation for the life that we have—because it really is a wonderful life. We’re very blessed.

I’ve learned through my life that when I focus on what’s wrong, it grows. And that not much can be expressed if I’m in a state of fear. Then, a breath of fresh air comes along, offering a new viewpoint, or something that reminds me of a forgotten truth of spiritual being, and that enables me to return in my center, to the place where love dwells. Soon I can say, "Oh, the problem is not so big after all! My imagination and emotions were making it so!"

This conversation rekindled my desire to make a daily practice of "keeping the faith"—to maintain as high a state of consciousness as I can so that positive changes can occur. I feel that this is just as important, if not more so, than dwelling on the problems. It doesn’t mean that I ignore what’s happening—rather it’s a conscious choice of where and how to use my energy and actions. At best, I aim to not add fuel to the fires of negativity, and to become a part of the global solutions. I feel people all around the world want this too. We can, collectively, create a field of potential where new solutions that are so far outside of the box spring forth, ones that are stunning, practical, and beneficial for the whole planet!

Two world-changing solutions have come to my attention: Flying drones with the capability to plant one billion trees a year! These drones are the brainchild of BioCarbon Engineering, offering a truly brilliant solution to the world’s deforestation problems—and the trees planted will be chosen to work with the natural biodiversity of a region—they will not just plant mono-crops that would create futures imbalances in the ecology.

Then there’s the gifted young man, Boyan Slat, who invented a breathtakingly elegant solution to collect the massive amounts of plastic waste that have been collecting in various areas of our oceans. He is the founder and CEO of The Ocean Cleanup, and his invention is another ground-breaking idea that is now being implemented—it will truly change our world for the better.

What allows a tiny seed grow? A perfect environment that meets all of its needs. This is a metaphor for my life too: the seeds of newness begin as baby seeds. If I tend them daily, give them fertile ground to grow in, and the love they need, they will germinate and thrive. And soon a mighty tree will appear.

I am reminded daily that I can only change the world by changing myself. And, that I am a part of this world.