what is smart activism?
The Smart Activist is for people who are passionate about systems change and want to explore a different way of being in that. It is based on the understanding that personal and social transformation go hand in hand.
Smart Activism is a term I use to convey my vision, but its foundation is not mine to claim. It draws from both ancient wisdom and modern day insights, inspired by countless teachings that encourage self-awareness and emotional maturity, addressing limiting beliefs within you and/or your community, knowing how vital self-care is, and seeking shared humanity rather than adding to polarisation. That to me, is being smart!
To become a ‘smart activist’, an important guiding principle here is that you do not need more skills to be more effective. You can discover where your ‘impact sweet spot’ lies and how to be there for the world without losing yourself.
outer action
You know your Impact Sweet Spot™ and focus your energy there - in what you do and how you do it.
You have a clear picture of what the desired future looks like and are able to convey that with impact.
You engage in profound listening with others, even if they have different views.
You take breaks, to rest and re-energise without feeling guilty.
You make impactful decisions using your own wisdom, and releasing old beliefs and habits.
inner wisdom
You’re connected to an inner compass - staying true to your own purpose and values.
You allow all feelings, including powerlessness, because you know that helps you to stay balanced in facing worrying global trends and the suffering of others.
You’re able to turn away from frustration and towards compassion in challenging situations, including difficult collaborations.
You’re free from the need to fix everything, instead finding fulfillment in changing what you can.
’….The more we work out of alignment with essential parts of ourselves, we might feel we are doing a lot – but how effective are these actions? And what is depleting on the other end to keep up the race towards a better world?’
Audre Lorde (1934-1992), Poet, writer, feminist and civil rights activist