burnout
I used to be a professional activist. I wanted to make the world a better place, of course, and I had an awesome job with an organization I was passionate about. It was the best job I ever had. And then BOOM! I hit a stumbling block. I suddenly realized that we were making very little progress, and I became overwhelmed and depressed. And then I got frustrated with everyone I was working with because they didn't see what I saw, and they were stuck in endless busywork, rather than addressing the root problems as I saw them. It really was one step forward and two steps back. So I quit. It seemed so hopeless.
In the intervening years, I went on a quest to figure out what happened, and how I could help myself be happy and productive again. This is a brief synopsis of what I learned about why I was going crazy, and about how to be a more effective activist...
lesson #1
stop banging your head against the wall
If what you are doing doesn't seem to be working, stop doing it! The world will not be a better place if you either succeed in making a hole in the wall or making a hole in your head.
lesson #2
understand why people do bad things
People do bad things because they are trying to take care of themselves and their communities, and they don't know any other way to do it. Find a way to help them take good care of themselves and their communities that doesn't involve the bad stuff, and everyone wins.
So, how do you do that? Well, consider the idea that there are basic, human needs that everyone on the Earth has. Needs that are inherent in humanity's biology - basic requirements that, at least in part, define what it means to be a human being. When these needs aren't met, for any reason, people suffer. And people who are suffering tend to cause or allow others to suffer in an effort to try and alleviate the suffering they are experiencing. It's the downward spiral of suffering. Think about it, when we are sick, we can't easily help others, right? When we don't feel loved, we find it easier to hate others. When we don't feel safe, we are more likely to threaten others. When we don't feel like we have control over our lives, we frequently try to control others. If we can't find healthy ways to meet our basic needs, we will resort to trying anything and everything we can think of, no matter how immoral we might have previously believed it was, simply because we don't think we have a choice.
lesson #3
understand the basic human needs
So what are these basic human needs? Well, pretty much every individual who has seriously studied human behavior and development comes to similar conclusions about what we need to be healthy, mature members of society. In general terms, those needs are:
- a healthy, functioning body
- clean air and water
- nutritious food
- shelter from extreme weather
- healthy sensory stimulation
- to feel relatively safe
- to have loving friends and family
- to feel useful and needed
- the freedom to explore and learn about the world
- beauty and diversity
Understanding these basic needs is the key to solving nearly all human problems. So, if you want to be an effective activist, when you see someone suffering, find out what it is that they are in need of, and find a way to satisfy that need, while simultaniously making sure that you are not depriving anyone else of their needs. Help them find the good stuff without resorting to the bad stuff. (For more info about human needs, see The Wise Turtle's Guide to Human Needs.)
lesson #4
do what you love
If you aren't enjoying your activism, you're doing it wrong. This may sound selfish, but it isn't, because joy motivates us to do beautiful, helpful, respectful things - while depression, fear, anger, and boredom motivate us to do ugly, selfish, and lame things. Of course you're angry about the injustice of it all, and that's great! It means you are alive and paying attention. Score one for you. But when it comes to what you put out into the world, if you aren't enjoying your actions, you simply aren't making the world a better place. So when you start to get frustrated or annoyed with your activism, take a break, find something else to do that you truly love and enjoy, and do that. That alone is enough to make the world a better place, even if it seems selfish at the time. Plus, your happiness will be contagious. And, eventually, you will be able to find things that you enjoy doing that are also directly beneficial to the rest of the world. Your creativity, effectiveness, and energy level will increase and you will become an amazing activist. Isn't that what exactly what you want do be?
lesson #5
stay sane
Remember to take care of your own needs first! The old standby that you can't love others until you love yourself is so very true. Make sure you are meeting your basic needs before you go out and try to meet other's needs, because if you don't, you will be violating lesson #4: Do what you love.
So take a moment to put your own oxygen mask on, make sure you're body is happy and safe, hang out with some good friends, and explore your world and all it's beautiful sights, sounds, tastes, smells, and feelings. Then go out and spead some beauty of your own.
Want more? Inspired? Just want to share your thoughts? Contact The Wise Turtle and see what she has to offer you!
If you have found these thoughts useful, consider making a donation. For more information on why The Wise Turtle asks for donations, and for suggested donation amounts, please see the Donations link.
