The Change We Can Make

Written By Halley Sherwood

Listen to the audio version of the piece below.

This week, I was tuning in to an episode of the Tim Ferriss show in which he interviewed Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, a marine biologist & environmental law activist. Besides the fact that it made me want to become a kelp farmer, this episode left me with one perfect piece of advice: make change where you are.

I don't know about you, but sometimes I get really bogged down by the feeling that I can't make a difference in the world unless I dedicate the rest of my life to becoming a well-connected politician or a renowned immigration attorney or a United Nations ambassador. It's a hopeless feeling, and one that usually just discourages me from doing anything at all.

But what that quote made me realize is that meaningful, sustainable change is not necessarily going to be achieved by all of us leaving our current jobs to join the nonprofit sector (especially since the nonprofit industrial complex can be equally counterproductive and corrupt).

What we really need to realize is that change operates within the domino effect. Most people don't change because they are told to, they change because they are either unhappy or because they're inspired by the way someone else is living their life. When you make changes in your own life-- whether it's in your eating habits, your purchases, your lack of purchases, your compassion, your art, or whatever-- people really do notice. Even when you think they don't, and even when they don't say it. And when you begin to live a life that brings you joy and pride, you might just inspire those around you to make changes of their own!

On top of that, it's way easier to try and make change on a smaller level than it is to try and change the minds of hundreds of millions of people. How we can use our talents and connections to make ripples of change where we're at?

Along with the quote, Dr. Johnson introduced this lovely little Venn diagram! The idea is that the most sustainable way for each of us to make change is by doing what we love and are good at, that way we don't experience burn out.

So ask yourself: What brings you joy? What are you good at? And what is the work that needs to be done?

That magic little triple-combo in the middle is a great first step for all of us to take. Can you imagine what would happen if we all gave it a shot?