Some people believe the only expectation of change they can initiate and have accountability for is first within themselves. Other’s believe for any real meaningful change, change must happen as a movement, as a people, as a population.
Both are important and equally powerful. I think both should be used synchronistically. Real change happens at an individual instance, change is a correction, understanding what’s good, what’s right and making decisions and actions aligned with producing the better outcome. That kind of change takes time, patience, understanding and compassion for that person but also for the people around them. I think it’s unfair, not compassionate and intolerant for the people around that person to enforce an expectation for them to change, when everything has its time, everyone is growing and developing at their pace.
There have been many great humanitarian movements in the past, i.e. Civil Rights movement, but there have been many horrific movements as well. Movements are not right or justified just because they are movements. And just because the movement has a lot of people doesn’t give it moral authority.
A real movement is when people experience individual change as a group, as a people, at the same time, organically, authentically, synchronistically not just a compliance and assimilation of thought – otherwise movements can just be a mass agreement of emotions and feelings without any real purpose or discovery, self-awareness and experience of change.
Change starts from a place of impossibility, difficulty, struggle and maybe even hopelessness, it is a long, difficult road from those feelings and emotions to a place of change, progress, hope and betterment.
When movements are distorted, they are rooted in fear, insecurity, desperation and hopelessness and just imposing a will upon other people through fear and manipulation. The movements of real change are organic, authentic and rooted in fearlessness, hope, courage, connection, compassion and love.
We need heroes of patience, understanding and compassion. I think this is our greatest power for change.