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 January 17, 2025
Use the 5-step Activism Path from The Happy Activist to find your passion and live your values. Think outside the box to match your unique skills to powerful social change. Make a difference doing what you love.
Don’t head to the streets. Instead, use your talent and skills for your cause. Today’s activists use art, public speaking, writing, teaching, and the power of the pen to change the world.
You can, too.
Why Use The Activism Path?
When I got off the sidelines, I was overwhelmed with work. However, I found that finding your passion leads to effective activism. From my research, I created the Activism Path, a way you can find the cause closest to your heart and begin to change the world.
As you follow the Activism Path you will find you gain more than becoming an activist. You’ll begin to live your ideal life.
How To Use The Activism Path
Find The Cause Closest to Your Heart
Rather than getting overwhelmed trying to solve every problem, focus. Get clear about your ideal life and ideal world, and find the cause that means the most to you. Focus on this and become more effective. Choosing the cause dearest to you will help you stay motivated.
Be Clear About Your Unique Skills
Everyone has things they do well. These are often talents that come naturally to you. If you are clear about your best skills you can match them to your activism work. Are you good at planning? Perhaps you can manage a campaign. Are you an artist? Lend your talent to graphic design for a nonprofit website.
What motivates you? For example, some people like to work in a team, and others prefer working alone. It is okay to choose activism you enjoy doing. If the thought of lobbying an elected official gives you anxiety, it isn’t the right activism method for you. On the other hand, if you love to write, consider an activism method that taps your skills.
You may have a lot going on in your life. So the time you spend on activism is precious. Make it count. Decide how you can make the most impact for your cause.
The last step in the activism path is to change the world! Set goals that will motivate you and celebrate your progress. And while you are working for the greater good, recognize any signs of stress and care for yourself. Stay motivated for the long haul.
A Look At How The Happy Activist (formerly What’s On Your Sign?) Guides You Through The Activism Path
Introduction
Explore why following the Actvism Path is important.
1: Make a Change
Meet three activists who are at different stages of their activism path. One is finding her cause, another is just getting started, and the third is rethinking her focus to make more impact.
2: Create a Vision of Your Ideal Life
Create a vision of your ideal life, one that will guide you in all areas of your life, including your activism.
3: Focus Your Passion
The gap between your ideal world and your current world is the perfect place to focus your passion to find the cause closest to your heart.
4: Identify Your Skills
Identify your activism skills and the skills you can apply to activism. In this chapter, you will remember times in the past you’ve used activism skills. You will also identify skills that you can apply to activism right now.
5: Inventory Your Activism Knowledge
Having identified passions and skills in the previous two chapters, in Chapter 4 you determine the knowledge you bring to activism. Next, you assess your level of cultural competence and privilege.
6: Be Clear About Your Motivation for Activism
Assess your motivation for activism. You will identify your needs, so you stay motivated and productive. Because activism can be challenging, personal motivation helps you get through the tough times.
7: Find Activism Opportunities
Review activism methods and choose those that motivate you. There is something for everyone. Possibilities include lobbying, fundraising, educating others, research, art, crafting, music, theatre, and writing.
8: Narrow Your Activism Options
Choose your activism path. Evaluate what you’ve learned about yourself and narrow down your choices of activism work. You will have a clearer picture of yourself and what you bring to activism.
9: Craft Your Ideal Activism Opportunity
Create a vision of your ideal activism opportunity, considering your skills, knowledge, and motivation. Consider whether you want to work with an existing movement or head out on your own.
10: Find Activism That Works
Find potential activism opportunities to make a positive impact on your cause. Use criteria to rank your possibilities and increase the likelihood of your effort paying off in positive change.
11: Choose Your Ideal Activism Opportunity
Plan for maximum activism impact. Effective performance is a mixture of the right skills, knowledge, motivation, and circumstances. As you begin your activism, improve your odds of making a positive impact.
12: Ensure Your Activism Success
Explore factors that affect performance and how to set yourself up for success.
13: Stay Motivated
Stay motivated in your activism. Identify ways to stay motivated in your activism work using goal-setting and self-management tools. You will celebrate your accomplishments and adjust your goals if needed.
14: Celebrate Your Accomplishments
Marking your accomplishments helps you and the cause closest to your heart.
Easy Ways to Follow the Activism Path
The 5-Step Activism Path Workbook provides readers with actionable steps and exercises that align with The Happy Activist. It’s the perfect tool for anyone looking to deepen their engagement and make a more meaningful impact.
To support educators and community leaders, I have developed a Common Core-aligned Teacher’s Guide. This resource provides lesson plans, activities, and discussion prompts to inspire and empower the next generation of activists.
About The Happy Activist
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- Find The Cause Closest to Your Heart
- Take Stock of the Gifts You Bring to Activism
- Find an Activism Method You Love
- Make Impact With Your Activism
- Stay Motivated in Your Activism
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