Change Happens Within

#MotivationMonday with Create Change

*Just more unsolicited thoughts inspired by a comment or two from the Instagram live post. *

Sometimes when we’re just going about our life, day in and day out we lose track of things that may have once had more meaning or held our gaze a little longer than the average. You know the times I speak of, we all do it…put our head down and follow the well-worn path whether that instinct is borne of our stressful lives, lack of time, philosophies or anxiety…we do it without thinking. Many a poet has described the action of narrow focus to include tunnel vision, wearing blinders, digging one’s head into the sand…all implications lobbed to justify a lack of introspection and observation. As if staying blind to the slights of the world will somehow relieve us all of the duty we inherently have to our brothers and sisters.

While the act of focusing is not inherently at issue, it is what we do with our attentions that define us. I know we’ve all heard the saying, “those who do not learn from the past are doomed to repeat it” and what may you ask, is the point of bringing that up? Well, history is an amazing teacher but only if we want to learn. History is littered with horrific examples of abuses of power, discrimination, torture, plague, war and famine. Yet, the existence of those events are not what I am speaking to, rather I’m speaking to the notion that if you look away, look down or close your eyes…you make a conscience choice. 

I realize this notion may challenge your established beliefs, but at some level you must understand that in every inaction, there fundamentally is, action. It is at these times that silence can become deafening, like the ringing in your ears from church bells…clouding your mind, numbing your senses and distorting your understanding. Injustice comes in many forms, but it’s the well dressed majority who are highly educated I’m imploring to wake up. Open your eyes, shift your vision and see the world without your picture perfect lenses. The very same lenses that watched Hitler slaughter millions, currently stand by while the world burns.

Passive action is all around us and has become a popular rallying cry for those who want to appear that they have acted with empathy. In fact, the clearest example that comes to mind is that of political members who pride themselves on ‘reaching across the aisle’ as though that is something to be proud of. Well I’m here to tell you, it simply is not enough. Staying in your seat and ‘reaching’ shows little effort at trying to fully embrace what another is going through. Simply put, that action is merely sympathy and is punctuated by passiveness. The world deserves the opposite in every way…instead of ‘reaching across the aisle,’ get up out of your seat. Walk across the aisle, stand in the shoes of someone other than yourself. Talk with others, especially those you share no commonalties with. Truly listen to the stories, hear the tones in their voices and allow yourself to feel what the other side is like. Stop supporting passive sympathy, stop giving it a voice and realign your thinking so you can engage with empathy. Acting with empathy is the greatest gift we can give not only to ourselves but those around us, it is at its core…active.

As for history, that my friends is a fallacy because until we actually make progress…before we actually create change, history remains present.

I know change is hard, it’s scary and it’s unknown. But don’t you see that in those moments, the moments that terrify us, challenging the established norm can bring us understanding and growth. It can bring us together, unify us and bring us closer to equality and justice. Yes, there is still so much work to do, the battle may seem overwhelming and grandiose but hear Chyler’s words…really listen when she says, “change happens within yourself first, one step at a time.” I just want to remind you that we all want the same things in life regardless of culture, religion, philosophy, gender or color…we all want to be loved, heard, understood and accepted. Not despite our differences, but because of our differences.

 It’s a conscience choice to do good, to speak up and fight for what you believe in. So, hear me now, we can be more. We can be the tidal wave that erodes the hate and injustice from our shore…yes, each individual may not be the surge but if we come together just imagine what we could do.

Imagine what we could become if we would create change.