A Time to Act

It seems that no matter where we live on earth today, these present times are calling us to rise up and take action.

If you find yourself sitting on the sidelines feeling anxious as you watch the chaos unfold, getting active might be just the antidote for you!

Are you struggling to muster the courage to get started or overwhelmed by the countless ways others are asking you to act via your social media feeds and email inbox?  

You might first want to consider what ways of getting active most resonate with you and what you have the bandwidth for in a time like now.  

There is clearly not a one size fits all response to the injustices we see in the world.  Inherent to many forms of front line change-making is also a high risk for burnout.  

We are each wired differently and feel called to act in different ways at different times in our lives.  Competing priorities tap us for valuable time and limited internal resource.

Typically when we think of 'activism', we think of boots on the ground, fists in the air, signs and voices spouting our message for all to hear, especially those whose attention we most hope to grab.  

This type of activism is vital and is a starting point in the change-making process.  

But fear not, if this version doesn’t fit for you, there are many others ways to get your body in motion advocating for and manifesting the more beautiful world you want to help create!     

An internet search gave me a few different lists on the ways people engage in activism.  I have condensed and compiled them here:

• Sit-Ins/Die-Ins: Occupying a space to disrupt activity and draw attention to an issue.
• Marches:  boots on the ground, fists or signs in the air, voices loud and proud.
• Walkouts: Leaving a location or event en masse as a sign of protest.
• Vigils/Memorials: Gathering to mourn, honor, or remember a person or event, often with a call for change.
• Rallies/Speeches: Public gatherings with speakers and performers advocating for a cause.
• Letter Writing/Petitions: Contacting elected officials or organizations to express opinions and demands.
• Boycotts: Refusing to purchase goods or services from a company or country as a form of protest.
• Strikes: Work stoppage by employees to pressure employers or governments for change.
• Voting: Participating in elections to support candidates and policies aligned with one's values.
• Social Media/Hashtag Activism: Using online platforms to raise awareness, organize, and mobilize support.
• Street Art: Creating public art to express political messages and challenge dominant narratives.
• Craftivism: Using crafts and handmade objects to promote social and political change.
• Mutual Aid: Community-based initiatives providing direct support and resources to those in need.
• Marches/Demonstrations: Organized public processions to raise awareness and demonstrate support for a cause.
• Civil Disobedience: Intentionally breaking laws considered unjust to challenge their legitimacy.
• Hacktivism: Using technology and computer skills to disrupt systems and promote social change (I am not promoting this, just wanted to share what I found in my search!).
• Educational Campaigns: Organizing workshops, lectures, and other educational events to raise awareness and inform the public.
• Community Organizing: Building relationships and mobilizing community members to address common concerns and advocate for change.
• Direct Action: Engaging in activities that directly address an issue or challenge a policy, often bypassing traditional channels.
• Legal Action: Filing lawsuits or providing legal support to challenge discriminatory laws and policies.
• Research and Advocacy: Investigating and documenting issues to inform policy debates and advocate for change.
• Whistleblower Actions: Exposing illegal or unethical activities within organizations or governments.
• Art and Performance: Using creative expression to raise awareness, inspire action, and challenge social norms.
• Hunger Strikes: Refusing food to protest injustice and draw attention to a cause.
• Economic Activism: Investing in or divesting from companies based on their social and environmental impact.
• Environmental Activism: Engaging in activities to protect the environment and promote sustainability.
• Animal Rights Activism: Advocating for the welfare and protection of animals.
• Media Activism: Using media platforms to challenge stereotypes, promote diverse perspectives, and hold powerful institutions accountable.
• International Solidarity: Building connections and supporting movements for social justice across borders.

• Aligned Activism: Supporting causes you believe in with time, money, or resources.
• Misaligned Activism: Boycotting or divesting from causes you disagree with.
• Brand Activism: A business taking a public stand on an issue, and becoming known for it.
• Corporate Activism: A company publicly supporting or opposing an issue through actions or policies.
• Pleasure Activism: Understanding the power dynamics of things that bring joy and pleasure.

• Slacktivism: Supporting a cause through online actions without further effort.
• Regenerative Activism: Organizing for social change while prioritizing self-care, life affirming systems, and preventing burnout.
• Spiritual Activism: Actions informed by connection to spirit and inspired by spiritual teachings or principles. Combines the inward focus of spirituality with the outward focus of activism.
• Mystical Activism: The practice of waking up to who we really are at the innermost part of ourselves and taking action that is rooted in our inner connection. It is the act of connecting to the sacred within ourselves and in the world around us and aligning our actions in the world with the movement of spirit within us. Personal connection and transformation precedes and informs the actions we take in the larger world around us. Activism is not separate from who we are, it is an extension and expression of who we are. This is the form of activism I most align with.  

Often we think of ‘activism’ as something we need to do on top of our already busy lives.  

But, by design, we are hardwired for action with opportunity to impact change with every step we take in the busy lives we are already living without adding more to our already full plates.

Sometimes we simply need to prioritize to make more room for taking the steps that matter to us most.

As for me, I'm passionate about helping people and planet thrive and have felt called to persistently be moving the needle of change forward on both.

How I have done this over the years has varied greatly depending on the phase and stage of life I was in, the roles I was filling, the networks I had access to help leverage, and the resources available to me.  

Getting active has looked like marching in the streets, writing letters to and visiting my politicians, and voting.  

Cycling through Argentina to raise environmental awareness and talk to locals about trash.  

Regenerative farming, volunteering as my workplace green team leader, and engaging in climate and health activism with other healthcare professionals.  

At present the call to act is moving me to launch a heart-aligned eco-centric coaching practice helping people transform their pain about what is happening on our planet into medicine for personal and planetary thriving.  

I share these things not to toot my own horn but to help expand your understanding of what responding to the call to act and advocate for change in the world can look like for you.  

Do the thing that makes you feel most alive and that feels most aligned with the ways you already feel called to show up in the world.   

Be intentional about feeling into your heart about what issues are most vital to you.

What issues are causing you the most pain?  

Is it the whole issue or is it a specific part of an issue you feel called to address?  

Who in your networks or community are already acting on this issue.  Can you join forces with them?  

Know your barriers to sustained action and address them.  

Be okay taking a back seat for a while if you need to let others take the lead.  

Don't wait until you know how to act perfectly! 

Our world needs you to act now!  

You will learn as you go!  

And meet incredible people along the way!

Wherever we are in the world, I think we can unanimously agree that it is a Time to Act.  Our shared legacy will be the steps we take to help people and planet thrive for the generations walking behind us.  

None of us can take all of the steps required to ensure future thriving is possible.

But we can all do our own part to ensure that our steps matter.

If you want help navigating now and finding your own unique way to stand up, speak out, and step out on the issues that matter most to you, stay tuned for my upcoming posts!