Many of us have heard of “six degrees of separation,” and for those who haven’t, it’s the theory we’re all connected by six degrees or less. Every person you know is separated from you by one degree, every person they know is separated from you by two degrees, the people those people know are separated from you by three degrees, and so forth.

“Six degrees of separation” indicates you are six connections away, or less, from reaching anyone in the world, through a chain of personal networks that start with you.

As I was sitting at my kitchen table one day, a flash of curiosity hit me and the questions began flowing.

Six degrees of separation…how interesting…that so many of us have heard of this theory, yet what is it about the theory we are so drawn to?

And why is it that we use the word separation to describe how we’re all connected, rather than using the word connection to talk about it? What is that all about?

As I rolled these questions around, I found the answer buried within.

So many of us, as people, deeply long for connection yet isolate and separate ourselves from the very connection we seek. We’re drawn to negativity, as the media consistently proves with its success in selling “bad news,” and as we quench our thirst for gossip in the tabloids and day-to-day conversations held with each other.

To explain how we’re all connected by virtue of how we’re separate makes perfect sense within the context of this perspective; we explain a positive with a negative, addressing a concept that hits us to the core, and the theory has spread worldwide.

Separation creates sadness within us, whether it is separation from others, ourselves, or from that which is bigger. So why then do we separate ourselves if it brings such pain? Numerous books have been written on this topic, and I am not here to prove, disprove, nor quote any of them. I can say, however, that in the work I have done with clients over the years, I have seen the emotions and beliefs of unworthiness, fear, and doubt, arise over and over again when exploring the circumstances around, and experience of, separation.

So the question becomes this:

What would happen if we changed the conversation? And instead of talking about our connectedness by how separate we are, we talked about our connectedness by how we’re all connected?

And if we were willing to take this one step further, and begin seeing the people we are connected to and what they have brought into our lives, how would that change the conversation?  How would that change the conversation with ourselves?

You don’t have to reach out by six degrees to impact your furthest connection. The ripple effect happens with each move that you make.

Have you ever spent time with someone who was in an awful mood that ruined your day? Or with someone so full of kindness that your day was uplifted? How we are in each moment affects others, over and over again.

Want to make a difference in the world?

Whether you want to or not, through action or inaction, you do make a difference. But the kind of difference you make is up to you.

So how do you begin?

Whether you expand into personal joy and freedom, put your life purpose into action, or receive clarity and inspiration to generate new possibilities for yourself and others, each experience, each opening, and each action creates a chain of events that touch the lives of those around you, your friends, family, community, and world. 

One person does make a difference.

It starts with you.

And with me.

And I believe that together, we have the power to transform the world with love, joy, and gratitude each step of the way.

All great changes begin with one next step. What is your vision for the future?  And what action will you put into motion today?

With gratitude,

Lena

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Article originally published as "Six Degrees of Gratitude: Transform Yourself, Transform the World" © 2012–2015, and "Six Degrees of Gratitude: Global Impact that Starts with You" © 2015. Revised 2026. Gratitude6, LLC. All rights reserved.