Strategic Steps for Putting Your Passion into Action, Part I

If you have followed any of my previous articles, it’s no secret that I feel strongly that now is the time to rally to the cause of global transformation. In fact, the time to embody a collective sense of social action isn’t even now, it was 50 years ago, but here we are and there’s no time like the present.

So, I won’t spend much time in this post on why it’s not acceptable to sit back and hope it gets better, or wait for a some dynamic figure to step up and lead the way. In fact, I would even venture to say that we can no longer meditate our way out of the crisis we’re in. Without being too critical of the importance of personal development, which is definitely a vital component to global transformation, it’s time to get honest if we’re using that individual spiritual work to delay engagement in social and collective action.

What often happens, however, is that we feel that to make a difference we have to take on the entire global crisis. Unfortunately, this vague context of social change can prohibit clarity and vision in what it actually means to embody social action and live our purpose. When we are bombarded each day by endless streams of information, updates on the crisis, peoples’ opinions and images of environmental destruction, it is no surprise we struggle on where we can really make an impact. But to quote Frank Zappa; “Information is not knowledge. Knowledge is not wisdom. Wisdom is not truth. Truth is not beauty. Beauty is not love. Love is not music. Music is THE BEST.”

The first step, if we are to heed Zappa’s words, is to listen deeply to the music that stirs our hearts into motion. This is the song that we carry in our soul-based work. To know this song intimately allows us to embody a sense of conducting an orchestra, leading the choir of social change.

Words break down and often don’t give all the information, knowledge and wisdom we need to get strategic about creating positive change. Even if we can’t quite articulate what we are trying to achieve, we can feel that purposeful energy within and that is what is contagious when inspiring others to join the cause. It’s almost as if the unifying power of music allows us to translate that energetic quality to being psychic rockstars conducting an orchestra of social change.

Understanding The Principles of Scale in Influencing our Strategic Social Action Steps

Sharing this song of social action is important, but to be strategic in influencing real change requires an understanding of where this vibration is resonating from in what is called “The Principles of Scale.” This concept is written about in more depth in the Purpose to the People Guide, but I will summarize it a bit below to offer a starting point.

These three principles include personal, social and universal scales in which a transformative action is aligned. By understanding where your intentions align within the Principles of Scale informs your social impact. As described in the Purpose to the People handbook, “It is not enough to seek refuge in a spiritual practice if it is devoid of works; nor is it sufficient to engage in action that lacks a holistic foundation.”

In deciding how we approach our social action initiatives, the handbook goes on to explain that we can consider our intentions from the following perspectives:

“Our actions are aligned on a universal scale when we allow purpose to guide us into right relation to the cosmic whole. It is purpose through which humanity bears access to the evolutionary impulse itself, finding realization in both inner and outer realms.

Our actions are aligned on a collective scale when we walk in solidarity, cultivating the bonds of life and resisting the forces of division. It is solidarity that compels us to recognize the roles and responsibilities that arise from interdependence, and to love as fully as we are able. When we come into collective alignment, we minimize harm and maximize good for all humanity.

Our actions are aligned on a personal scale when we recognize autonomy, laying the foundation for holistic democratization. It is autonomy that asserts the intrinsic value of every human life, endowing each of us with natural rights to self-determination, self-expression, and self-care. When we come into personal alignment, we reconcile all aspects of the self—body, heart, mind, and spirit.”

While it is important to keep a holistic approach to living our social action commitments by considering all three of these principles as integral approaches to our efforts, I believe it is time to emphasize the social impact of actions founded within the collective and universal scales of principle. Having an ongoing personal practice is necessary as an activist, but as was the case so often in the 1960s, solely focusing on our individual spiritual development is not going to make the sustainable, collective impact we desperately need.

Living your social action is about taking action for the good of the whole, from a place of love and compassion. When considering the strategy of putting our passion into action, we’d do well to reflect on these three principles often to ensure a ripple effect of change that unites, rather than divides, our global family.

Getting Strategic in Taking Action Through, Against or Beyond the System

When it comes time to put into action our project or purpose-driven interest, assuming that it is founded in love and collective well-being, we must also consider how we’ll approach creating positive change. Because we are taking the initial steps to live our social action beliefs, this approach will most likely evolve with time as we begin taking action in the three following ways:

• Through the system
• Against the system
• Beyond the system

Making an impact “within the system” holds an important place in social change. The first example of this approach that comes to mind is getting politically involved in local and national elections. This is especially true as we move toward the 2020 United States election year, where strategic social action can take the form of helping with voter registration or supporting candidates.

Taking an approach of creating positive change within a current system is a way toward transformation without having to reinvent the wheel or destroy a system all together. Experiencing any major change is a challenge to even the most enlightened. Taking a strategic, activist approach within a current system is a way to bridge differing viewpoints while immersed in a culture and, to quote philosopher and founder of Integral Theory, Ken Wilber, “include and transcend” a way of operating that takes in the wisdom of the past while incorporating an evolved way of being or understanding aligned with the times.

However, for many passionate activists, going “against the system” is the first experience in pursuing social change. Attending protests or boycotts is one way to take action, but the reality of this strategy is one requiring stamina and guts. It’s important to ask oneself the physical and emotional capacity necessary to commit to this journey. Cultures evolve because people stand up against injustice, and this strategy has its place. If this your social action strategy of choice, it is important that efforts and energy are not solely rooted in frustration and anger and can be complimented with efforts that also tie in work that builds on the collective and universal principles of scale.

Out of the three ways to take action the preferable option, in my opinion, is working “beyond the system.” However, it is also perhaps the hardest option to choose. This requires creating a new process and way of approaching change and getting creative using a long-term vision for how that will unfold for the good of the whole. Strategy is critical in this approach, as is truly having a passion for the work you are embracing will often seem to be on the fringes of the “norm.” We can find inspiration in the wise words of Einstein that; "We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.”

Social Action Strategies Start with Deep Listening

No matter which path of action we choose, we can’t disregard the importance of deep listening as a strategic starting point. To truly have a finger on the pulse of how our projects or social impact will look and how to get people motivated to join the movement and feel connected to the story means understanding the current conversation and frustration — from all perspectives. This is why taking action at a local level is a great start.

Whether we are acting within, against or beyond the system, listening and open curiosity helps us to also gain clarity. It also allows our projects and next steps to unfold organically and with greater focus.

However, deep listening as a strategy does not mean taking information without discernment. Selective listening is also important. It seems contradictory, but it is important to stream out some of the meaningless interference and static we are bombarded with each day in social media and other forms of communication. Not every person or news source is offering useful information, and having the most information doesn’t equate to gaining wisdom, nor does it have more impact on persuading people to switch perspectives or change habits.

Deep listening as a strategic steps is not limited to the social conversation; it is also important that we engage in reflection with our inner voice. Taking action at the scale and commitment required in these challenging times takes a lot of energy. What does the vibrational quality of this energy sound like to ourselves and others? Is it coming from a place of love?

Agape action is much more sustainable and has much more coherence with our fellow citizens. Not to mention that for us to stay the course, we need to find true enjoyment and passion in the work we are engaging. Living a life of social action founded in anger might initially seem the more powerful force, but to sustain momentum it is love, not hate, that will fuel the energy that will keep us going and inspire others to join the cause.

Living our social action is not purely about intellectually strategic steps, contrary to how this post might read. If we are to create lasting change though, it is now time to move from best intentions to best strategic steps toward action. This requires building from the idea stage, and moving ourselves into the planning phase, always paying attention to the song in our soul that drives the rhythm of our actions.

To come up with a social action plan, for a personal project or as a way of embodying change, one has to see the field of the adjacent possible. A balance of what is possible AND accessible as an immediate next step is required to start building momentum.

In the next post on this series, I’ll explore more in-depth what that looks like, and how to strike a balance between pushing the boundaries of our comfort zone while managing any personal or cultural resistance that will arise. For now, however, we can start with a call to action that is driven by the collective and universal principles of oneness and reflect on the best approach in creating social change within, against or beyond the current system.

While this is the mental work necessary in living our social action, we also must remember to listen and feel into our sense of purpose. A strategy is only as powerful as the energy and passion that drives the beat of progress, and it’s time to share our heartfelt song with the world.

Feature Photo by Fernando @cferdo on Unsplash