The Activist for Activists. Author of Make a Difference with Mental Health Activism and The Happy Activist: Journey the 5-Step Activism Path to Focus Your Passion and Change the World. Teacher, Psychologist, Environmental Activist, Animal Lover.
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Last Updated on September 23, 2025
At four months into the pandemic I was feeling overwhelmed at all that needs to be changed to make the world a better place. We needed to right wrongs, win elections, change legislation, and free people.
Do you feel that pressure to make the world a better place, too?
As the Sufi Mystic poet Rumi says, “now is not the time to stay home.” Open the door, step out, and start the challenging work of making change.
There Is So Much Needed to Make the World a Better Place
But with so many issues, where do you start? With focus. You can’t do everything, so focus on the cause closest to your heart.
That doesn’t mean you must limit yourself to one cause. There is a difference between deep engagement in the cause that means most to you and your support of other causes.
People cannot devote themselves to every single cause or fighting every single injustice in the world. Expecting people to care about everything requires an astronomical amount of effort that no one should have to expend…It’s like feminism versus environment for me. I support the fight for environmental preservation. I recycle. I pick up my trash. I wash my laundry on the environmentally friendly settings. However, I care way more about the state of women in the world than the ozone layer. ~ AJ Martin
Social justice movements rely on two types of activists. First, engaged activists. Author Hahrie Han researches how organizations make an impact by better engaging activists in the work. Successful organizations realize the impact of dedicated and talented people. They make sure to engage activists at the highest level of skill they possess and for which they feel the most motivation. Furthermore, they continue to nurture activists to even higher levels of expertise and engagement.
But they also need ‘boots on the ground.’ Han calls this mobilization. Mobilization is getting people to the right places in the activism work, such as protests, circulating petitions, and fundraising.
Finding the Cause Closest to Your Heart
As part of the 5-Step Activism Path, you find your passion so you can focus on the cause closest to your heart. Then you identify your gifts; using your skills, knowledge, and motivation means you will have more success and stay motivated.
First, explore how to create a vision of your ideal life that will guide you toward your deepest passions. Then, learn more about causes and find what resonates with you.
The cause closest to your heart is where you focus your time and talent. When others try to get you involved in a different cause, remember that this is your passion and where you are motivated to make a difference.
Mobilizing For Other Causes
When you find the cause closest to your heart and focus your passion, should you avoid other causes? When your sister asks you to join her in a rally for her cause, should you say no? When it comes to donations, should you restrict them to only your cause?
You likely support other causes than the one closest to your heart. So, don’t hesitate to be an ally. If you have time, be there for your sister at her rally. If you can afford it, donate to those other causes you support. When your neighbor stops by and asks you to shop at black-owned businesses, support him. You may be able to use your social media accounts to promote a cause, or you can stand up to injustice you see in the community.
Focus your passion for the cause closest to your heart. But stay open to opportunities to be an ally for other causes. And don’t forget to recruit allies for the cause closest to your heart.
Resources
In the 5-Step Activism Path, I offer tools to find the cause closest to your heart, pinpoint your gifts, and find the right activism opportunity.
- Step 1: What is your vision?
- Step 2: What are your gifts?
- Step 3: What’s in it for you?
- Step 4: How can you match your gifts to the needs of the community?
- Step 5: Are you making an impact?
Learn about how an organization should help you develop and engage in your cause.
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