Leave It Better Than You Found It

It can apply to almost anything too, whether it’s a relationship we’re involved in, a business we work for, the home we live in, or just how we treat nature and the environment.

The idea is based on the fact that we have an influence over our world, both positive and negative.

Our actions have a real effect on the people we interact with, our work and the value we give to society, our property and how we choose to use it, and the places we inhabit.

Unfortunately, many people go through life with a “consumer” mindset. They find something in the world, use it all up, and then ditch it when there is nothing else to gain. They don’t leave it better than they found it; they instead choose to get what they can, and leave it worse off.

Even the small things add up over time: not cleaning up after yourself in a public bathroom, not throwing out your trash at a friend’s place, ending an argument on a negative note, littering at a park or nature preserve, only putting in the minimum amount of effort at work, or borrowing something from someone and not taking proper care of it (the way you would if you owned it yourself).

These things may seem inconsequential, but they reflect a destructive attitude toward life. When we do these things we lose track of the “leave it better than you found it” attitude.

Instead, we need to think beyond the narrow scope of our “self,” beyond just our own wants and needs, and recognize that our actions affect the lives of other people, including people who we may never even meet or know exist.

“Leave it better than you found it” is a long-term, productive mindset. It’s a plan for the future. It’s the complete opposite of short-term, destructive consumerism, which only cares about immediate wants and needs.

There’s a Greek Proverb that suggests, “A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.” This is a perfect example of the “leave it better than you found it” mindset.

So as you go about your day, ask yourself, “Am I adding value to this [relationship/home/business/environment] or am I only taking value away from it?” The answer will help you determine if you’re actually leaving it better than you found it.

Of course, it’s idealistic to expect to add value to everything, but the point is we should try our best, considering what is both practical and within our power.

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