Our biggest advocacy tool might not be passion, but consistency. Here's why.
I believe that in activism, we often look at the bigger picture rather than the details. While our main goal is crucial, we tend to overlook the small ways we are able to paint a finished masterpiece.
So, let’s talk about why consistency has everything to do with activism.
In the '50s, a plastic surgeon named Maxwell Maltz decided to document the findings of his patients’ post-operations and found a trend in their habitual manners. He noted that it took a minimum of 21-days for his patients to adjust to their new look, and with that, he recognized the trend of how we as humans develop habits.
Like Maltz's patients, consistently looking at the same object for a certain period eventually allows you to get used to it until autonomy takes place. You might also know about Pavlov's dogs and their initial response to hearing a bell which causes their mouths to salivate. Okay, so let me get to the point.
When our consistency becomes a habit, it eventually becomes a lifestyle. To pursue something like activism requires more than time, it requires discipline.
It's easy to get lost in activism when you're passionate– believe me, I get it. If you're anything like me, you understand that there is often a deep internal struggle when faced with such big emotions - especially if your capacity for empathy is a large one. However, if you understand this tendency, you'll know that there is nothing that fully satisfies us like the joy of advocacy. There is a sense of purpose achieved in knowing that you are part of the world's population that feels called to something bigger than yourself. There are billions of people in the world who count on people like us to leave the world better than when we found it.
If you struggle as an empath, you might often find yourself critically immersed in the world that is socio-political advocacy. My advice to you is to focus less on, "What can little ole' me possibly do to fix this?," and focus instead on, "What is already being done and how can I shed light on it for others to see?" With that being said, I believe that our most excellent tool in advocating for others is to remain consistent with how we fight our battles for those who can’t – and to not do it alone.
If the platform you use for advocacy is social media, be consistent in what you post regarding the issue you are advocating for. This doesn't mean every single one of your posts must be relevant to something like awareness of indigenous lands or human trafficking. As humans, we are wired to act as we see. When people see others engaging in something they are passionate about, they begin to ask questions. When the questions are being asked, then the action takes place. Whether your audience is 100 or 1,000,000, the world is watching, take advantage of it and use your powers for good!
Maybe your action in advocacy is something a bit more physical, such as volunteering at shelters, donating goods, or even protesting. When we become consistent in this realm, we are not only committing ourselves to a cause, but we are investing our whole selves to others. By being physically present in these areas, we are developing a sense of trust with those we are supporting.
Consistency does not only mean repetition, it means commitment.
Things would never change if we only spoke up once. It takes roughly a year for a law to be passed. Imagine if we spoke out just a few times about the injustices that the marginalized endured before the laws that protected them were put in place. Things would not change at the rate they normally do when we use our voices to fight what we deem morally unjust.
Something like Dressember touches both of these realms. Being able to document your participation in wearing a dress or a tie for a month allows others to ask questions, and eventually, get involved. Wearing a dress or tie can create a conversation to invite others into what it means to advocate using something as simple as your wardrobe. But say you don't have social media to document it? Lucky for you, you see people every day! Consistency plays a huge part in this when the people around you start to notice the fact that you've been dressing up a little extra this month. Take your advocacy to work, school, the grocery store – hey, take it to France if that's where you're headed!
Whether your advocacy relies on you social media presence or your physical presence, just remember that your number one tool in fighting starts with what you already have. You’ll never learn how to grow into your voice if you don’t use it. Friends, be consistent and be bold!
About the Author
Kanoelehua Robinson is a Native-Hawaiian from the small town of Hilo, Hawai'i. She loves finding new music, napping on the beach, and traveling. She is also incredibly passionate about her culture. She likes to sing and play guitar, but she's not like, "you-should-make-YouTube-covers" good. With her passions in art, music, and indigenous cultures, she hopes to use them toward her future career as she studies Public Relations at Azusa Pacific University.