"a new world order" 🌍

I'm curious, in your everyday thoughts and language, how do you define activism?  (No test here - and no need for lofty intellectual definitions, either!) 😉

By your own definitions, would you consider yourself an activist?  How about an advocate?  Or, a changemaker?

These words are so politically charged.  Even the tone in which they are spoken varies widely depending on whether they’re being brandished as accusations or celebrated as awards.

Activist... advocate... changemaker...so many labels that can be applied to describe people who are actively working toward addressing injustices and making changes.  

Yet, many people invested in social progress shy away from (at least!) one of these labels.  

Occasionally, I'll see them used in a LinkedIn or Instagram profile description.  More often, however, these words fail to capture the identities of those who are having these interactions, speaking up, and addressing the injustices day-in and day-out.

I was having a conversation about this with a friend recently.  

Mind you, this friend is definitely someone who works toward addressing injustice in significant ways, and she has for years. There is no doubt she is invested in "making change."

She suggested I use the word "changemaker" to describe the ideal clients for whom Chrysalis (my small group program) was designed.

"Would you call yourself a changemaker?  Would you use that word to describe yourself?" I asked.  

There was a long pause.  I thought perhaps the call had dropped or she hadn't heard me.

Then she laughed. 😂

"No, I guess not!" she replied.

And yet, we couldn't collectively come up with a better word either.

Perhaps the challenge with how we define and use words is part of why I was so captivated by the description of activism that Eddie Ndopu offered:

I think that another word for activism is… imagination. Because it’s about this idea of being able to envision a world that doesn’t yet exist... I think that’s what the job of an activist is, it’s to be able to create, and create into being or create into existence a new world order that is really equitable and that is really fair and that’s just and sustainable.

How does this compare to your definition?  

Whether or not it matches, what do you feel when you consider the integral role of imagination to envision, and then create, a new world that is inclusive, just, and equitable for all?

So often we trap ourselves in the intellectual gymnastics of words, debate, and analysis.  

I don't know about you, but I love this recognition that our creative side is instrumental in the work of changemaking - or whatever you want to call it!  😂😉😜 

This week, how can you invite your imagination and creativity into your process of activism, advocacy, and changemaking?

Not only can this shape and reinforce the vision you're pursuing of a better world, but it can invite your joyful energy into the process as well.  Win-win. 🥳

For more perspectives and inspirational quotes on activism, click here. May these leaders’ words and stories empower and uplift you as you move through the constant challenges ahead.  💝