Activism
Some presumptuous tips on making a difference.
On Fixing The World
Many of us have an innate desire to fix many of the things we see wrong in the universe, but it’s worth taking some pause to consider some obvious truths about this feeling.
- Stop and think about this – You cannot fix everything. Pick your fights!
- Your level of effort in wanting and trying to fix Issue X ought to match the level of control and influence that you have over Issue X. Taking too big a bite can choke you.
- The very great majority of issues in this universe are outside your control. So Hey, Jude, refrain, don’t carry the world upon your shoulders.
- Your level of control actually lies in a spectrum from low to high, or, if you prefer, high to low.
- For issues where you have a high level of control and influence, you have no excuses for NOT trying to fix them.
- Seriously, you should feel shame for not trying to fix them 😀
- And you should study these issues in-depth
- And you should have a stance on how you feel about each of them
- Try to think of possible solutions and fixes
- For issues where you have a low level of control and influence, you actually have a very legitimate excuse for not being able to correct them.
- So, for most of these, just let them go!
- Still, do try a bit to understand them, again proportionally to your sphere of influence
- Do try a bit to be informed on them
- Do try a bit to have a stance on them
- Not everything that we see as wrong may actually be wrong. Double and triple check whether Issue X is really a problem that is really worth solving.