How To Make A Do Something! Plan

Illustration by me (part of a 100 day project)

Almost everyday since the election (you know the one), I have been in conversation with people who are feeling confused, helpless, guilty, stressed out, angry, and traumatized by what’s going on in our country. 

If you didn’t vote for that guy (you know the one), a few minutes of the news probably makes you feel like you want to smash stuff. Or hide under the covers. It is easy get outraged and overwhelmed, to become paralyzed, to turn away, or lash out.

IT IS A LOT AND IT'S NONSTOP. And there appears to be no end in sight anytime soon enough.

Maybe you've been to protests, donated money to organizations doing the hard work, contacted your elected officials every time some constituent pressure is called for. Maybe you're keeping up with the news, trying to be informed in real time, trying to educate yourself about the things you don't know. Those things are great. 

But still, I'm hearing, I want to do something but I don't know what to do. I feel guilty having fun or working on myself when there's so much going on in the world right now. It's exhausting. I can't even anymore. Nothing I do will make a difference.

Out of the conversations I’ve been having has evolved a set of questions that have been helpful in thinking about HOW TO BE and WHAT TO DO in a way that is purposeful, focussed, and sustainable. 

Asking ourselves these simple questions can help us build a framework for how we want to show up — during these times and beyond.  

Before we get to the questions, let’s talk about guilt for a second.

We (I'm mostly looking at you, fellow liberal white people) feel guilty and ashamed— about not doing enough, for being privileged, for not being woke before now. We feel guilty in advance for maybe not getting it totally right. Your guilt serves no one. It is not productive.

Try not to let your guilt drag you into inertia. Notice the guilt when it shows up, but don’t let IT become your focus. Imagine spending the brain space you’re using feeling guilty on something that serves what's important.   

Okay, back to the questions. If you’re already clear on the answers for yourself, cool beans. But if you’re wanting more clarity and action, give these a whirl. 

WHAT DO YOU REALLY CARE ABOUT? 

What is super important to you? What is most egregious to you right now? Where is the heat for you in all of this?

If you value truth and transparency, maybe supporting the journalism you care about is a place to focus. Not a fan of dead people? Gun control. Scared about what’s happening to environmental protections? Worried about fair elections? Disgusted by how people of color are treated in this country? Are LGBTQ issues what lights you up? Let what's most important to you lead the way. 

Make a list of what you really care about. Then prioritize them by how important they are to you. Pick the top three to focus on for now. 

Why three? You can choose two or one or five. But choose. You can't solve all the things. Pick a few. 

WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO OFFER? 

Your voice. Your body. Your time. Your energy. Your curiosity. Your intellect. Your skills. Your money. Your goods and services. Your home. Your heart. Your privilege. 

Are you great at organizing shit? Do you know immigration law? Do you have money? Are you fearless about calling out racist behavior when you see it? Are you a good facilitator? Do you make a kick ass protest poster? Do you have a car? Can you make websites? 

Make a list of what you have to offer so you’re clear on all the ways you may be of service. 

WHAT WILL YOU DO? 

Okay, so you’ve identified and prioritized what’s important to you and you know what you have to offer. Now what will you do? 

ONE WAY TO BREAK IT DOWN IS MONEY, TIME, AND ENERGY

How much money will I give, how often, and to whom? How much time and energy will I give, how often, and to whom? In what ways will I give of my time and energy — what do I see myself doing? and not doing? 

ANOTHER WAY TO BREAK IT DOWN IS BY LOCATION

Where will I do these things? What will I do in my personal life? What will I do in my local community? in my state? nationally? 

YET ANOTHER WAY IS BY DEGREE

How radical (or not) am I willing to be? What does radical look like for me? And as one of my kick ass clients asked me earlier this week — what am I willing to get arrested for? 

AND DON'T FORGET TO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF

What are the ways you will replenish and recharge when it all gets to be too much? What are the things that make you feel defeated (Twitter? Facebook?). What will you do to stay in the game? 

Make a list of what will you do. 

WHEN WILL YOU DO IT? 

What can you begin doing right now? What are you already doing and how can you do a little more? What requires more research and when will you start your information gathering? What are the things you will do every day? Each week? Once a month? 

What needs to happen for you to start putting your personal DO SOMETHING plan into place?  

PUT IT ALL TOGETHER

Now you should have your three areas of focus. You know what you have to offer and are willing to do. You know how much time and energy you can give and where you will give it. And you know when you will do these things. There's your plan. Go put it into action!

——

I'll leave you with this reminder I wrote to myself a year ago...

Stay frosty. Take turns. Be informed, but don't mainline the news. Pet a dog. Make food. Be with friends. Hear music. Make art. Laugh. Think of history — remember what nations have endured, survived. Think of space and our place in it. Go walk among the trees or the surf. Breathe in. Then out.

Fight like hell.