There are so many issues that deserve our attention we can become despondent. Ecological crises, political crises, war, repression, racism, sectarianism, inequality and injustice, interpersonal violence, all impact on our consciousness if we are awake. The world is not in a good place at the moment.
However we can take inspiration from the myriad of people who are taking action on so many different issues. We just have to look at the Irish response to the total destruction of Gaza; large scale solidarity of various sorts and, week in and week out, people demonstrating for an end to the killing and justice for Palestinians. There are so many other causes for which people are struggling.
We also need to reclaim the word ‘woke’ as a positive because the opposite is ‘asleep’ and ignorant of what is actually happening. We should be proud to be awake, to be woke. Conservatives and reactionaries have always accused those who espouse needed changes as mad and bad, as threatening the stability of society and adopting imaginary and unnecessary causes – and yet those causes (e.g. anti-slavery) become accepted. To think that movements for change are perfect is also, of course a mistake, and we all make mistakes and need to adjust, just as society needs to adjust as change, of whatever kind, takes place. A failure to move forward is effectively to move backwards as new challenges confront us.
Despondency can come from frustration at where we are at in our cause and campaigning. Bill Moyer’s MAP/Movement Action Plan, now a relatively old USA formulation of stages successful social movements go through, is a really useful tool in helping us with this (you can find plenty of information if you word search for it). The stages there should not be taken as a definitive list but as an indication of how things can go and grow. The most relevant aspect of this in relation to how we feel is that a campaign may actually be further on towards success than previously but the situation feels worse, and there can be greater frustration than earlier. Working for change is not easy and understanding where we are at is difficult but essential so we have the courage and knowledge to continue.
As we come to the end of one year and the start of the next there is a cultural norm to at least talk about ‘new year resolutions’. This is not pointless but our self evaluation needs not to be just an annual commitment of some sort to do or not do this or that. It should be part of what we are and do. However self evaluation can also become obsessive and as with so many things in life it is a question of finding a balance. Over commitment can lead to a deterioration in our personal relationships and that may not be good for us nor our friendships and close or intimate relationships.
We can only do what we can do, and if we do that then we have done our bit. Of course we may feel that we could have done more but that, if it consumes us, can become counterproductive. If we do not have at least some balance in our lives – for spending time with those we are closest too as well as enjoyment – burnout or simply crabbiness and minor misery will make us an impediment rather than an asset for change.
Being comfortable with ourselves is both a necessity and a risk. If we are too comfortable then we will drift into complacency. But while we should always be challenging ourselves we need part of those challenges to be small, achievable things; seeing success is necessary to retain our commitment and stamina. But we also need our longer term goals such as achieving equitable, sustainable energy systems to prevent further climate heating, or the advancement of nonviolent means of confronting repression and violence so we are not caught in endless war.
Our minds are wonderful things. If we set our minds to be activists who care not just about our causes but also for ourselves and for those around us then we can be a real part of the change that we wish to see. May the wind be at our back.