The World We Get to Build (Because It's Not 'Politics as Usual' Anymore)
by Tami Hackbarth
photo by Marek Piwnicki for Unsplash
“Decades of incremental changes happened because activists showed up day after day, year after year.”
This article appears in the October Issue of Jennifer Magazine.
Back-to-school time always feels like a fresh start. No matter how long I am away from school I still feel the pull of the new year and its endless possibilities. Now is the perfect time to bust out the new notebooks and declare who we will become and what kind of world we want to live in.
Set the scene
You’ll need to set aside some uninterrupted time and space for this exercise. Perhaps an hour before your family gets up or a quiet solo lunch at your favorite cafe will work for you. Maybe you’ll set aside time on a weekend afternoon or take an afternoon off work. Whatever environment you choose, be sure it’s free from routine distractions.
Chill the eff out
Before you start to get your ideas for who you want to be and the world you want to live in out of your head and on paper, slow down and chill out. It’s hard to do your best work when you are trying to multitask or haven’t gathered your thoughts. That’s why choosing an environment where you aren’t responsible for anything but yourself is so important. Turn off your notifications, close your eyes and breathe. Notice your feet in your shoes or on the floor, your tush in the chair and the slowing of your exhales. Unclench your jaw, your hands and that booty. Slowing down the body and brain will let those ideas flow.
Get some perspective
It’s likely there are big gaps between the reality of your life and the state of the world and the kind of world you’d like to live in. If so, you’re not alone. That is true for most of us. It is also true that change comes one step at a time when we have a clear vision. Real talk: even when we have a clear vision, there are still often steps backwards, but without that clear vision we aren’t likely to notice progress at all. A saying that will help you through these gaps is this: Slow progress is still progress. Keep repeating it.
Make a Map
You need to make a map. Without a map/plan/vision you’ll never get where you want to go or create the world you want to live in.
As you make this map, ask yourself the following questions:
What is important to me at this point in my life?
Who is important to me at this point in my life?
What do I want to do before I die?
What impact do I want to have on the world?
What changes do I want to see in the world?
What characteristics do change makers have?
What habits do change makers have?
What characteristics and habits do I need to develop to make my dreams a reality?
These may or may not be easy to answer. If you find yourself starting to panic, remember step two: Chill the Eff Out. Once you do, return your focus again to the question because your response will help reveal a path forward. Remember, you’re just starting out. Slow progress is still progress.
Extra credit: follow each question above with Why? This will help you see the motivation behind your vision.
Don’t stop believing.
As Tina Fey says, “Stay yes and you’ll figure it out afterwards”.
You don’t have to know how to make things happen in order to want them to become a reality. Let yourself dream big without reservations. You have figured out hard stuff before and you’ll do it again. Trust yourself.
Take small actions often.
Every big change is a result of tiny actions added up over time. Voting rights were not granted overnight. Decades of incremental changes happened because activists showed up day after day, year after year.
It’s the same in our personal lives too. We learned to walk by having a clear vision in our minds - freedom to move - and we kept at it until we became proficient in the skills necessary.
Taking your big dreams and breaking them down into tiny tasks will allow you to keep going. You don’t have to do anything except the next thing. Repeat.
Stay focused on the goal. There are a lot of naysayers in the world. Ignore them. People who have vision, dream big, and take small actions often are the ones who change the world.
You are a change maker.
This month’s action
Decide one issue that is important to you. Perhaps reproductive rights, trans rights, voting rights or gun safety are top of the list. Search for the organizations that work on those issues and sign up for their newsletter.
Feeling fancy?
Send a small donation to that organization. Every dollar helps move their agenda forward to make the changes you want to see in the world.
Feeling extra fancy?
Sit on the floor for up to 30 minutes a day with your feet and legs in different positions. Get up off the floor. Repeat daily. Your future senior citizen self will thank you.
Also inside the October Issue:
We were handed a script. Now we get to rewrite it.
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