When I was checking out of a store today, the cashier quickly scanned my item and then took a moment to squint her eyes to read the phrase that was printed across my purple t-shirt.

Pausing in between each word she read out loud, “Believe-there-is-good-in-the-world.” With her French accent and enthusiasm the lady immediately responded, “I absolutely love that. That made my day right there!”

“Oh thank you,” I said. “I felt like it was an appropriate time to wear it.”

“I definitely agree. More people need to wear shirts like that,” she replied.

Later on that day I went to the eye doctor for my yearly exam. And as my doctor came through the door, she immediately took a step back and read out loud the phrase that was printed across my shirt, also pausing in between each word.

“Believe-there-is-good-in-the-world.” Her eyes then turned to mine. “I know who’s good in the world! You are good in the world. And so am I.”

I gave her a big smile and said, “Yes! There are a lot of good people in the world.”

She turned to look at her computer and replied softly, “Sometimes we focus so much on the bad, that we forget there are good things in this world.”

A couple months ago I purchased this t-shirt from a friend to help raise money for her mission trip to Africa. The shirt quickly became one of my favorites because it is very comfortable and has inspirational words written across the front. But when I bought the shirt, I didn’t realize the impact it was going to have on me as well as other people.

After receiving those two remarks, I realized that small things like t-shirts actually have the capability of putting a smile on someone’s face as well as influencing others in a positive way.

Then it made me realize that the individual human beings wearing those t-shirts have even more capability of putting a smile on someone’s face as well as influencing others in a positive way.

As I reflected on the meaning of these words written on my t-shirt, I remembered that within the phrase it also says to be the good.

Being the good in the world is more than being kind, respectful and sincere. It is being the good when we are surrounded by the bad. It is being kind, respectful and sincere when we don’t particularly want to be.

It is very challenging to stay positive when so many negative events have been occurring. It’s difficult to have uplifting conversations when many people are bringing us down.

But the fact is we need to demonstrate love when others demonstrate hate. We need to inspire people because changes need to be made. We need to encourage others to get through these difficult times.

We don’t have the ability to control other people, but we have the ability to control ourselves. And while doing so, we may have the opportunity to shine our light over someone else's darkness.

By consciously controlling ourselves as individuals, we actually have the ability to help the people around us. And by consciously choosing to be the good in the world, better things will form as a result.

Unfortunately, instead of being the good, too many people are just saying the good. It’s easy to wear the t-shirts or write the social media posts instead of actually demonstrating grace, faithfulness, and sincerity. Many of us are guilty of just walking through the motions. But instead we need to actually immerse ourselves in kindness and help others out of the goodness of our hearts.

We need to remember that we have so much inside of us. We have handfuls of power and strength that is waiting to be put into use.

Whether it’s giving a stranger a compliment, being a supportive friend, advocating for others, donating money, praying for someone, being part of an intervention, or volunteering for a cause you’re passionate about, take a moment to remind yourself of who you are, what you can give, and what your purpose is behind it.

Think about what “being the good in the world” means to you. Then consciously live your life by that definition. By doing this and living by example, we have the ability to change the world, one person at a time.

Whether we realize it or not, every day we are given a choice.

A choice to look forward.

A choice to open our eyes.

A choice to love.

A choice to make a difference.

And a choice to be the good in the word.