How many of us wait to be our version of perfect before actually doing something?  I’ll get that tattoo when I lose 20 pounds. I’ll apply for that job when I’ve got everything at home under control. I’ll volunteer when I have more time. I’ll start that business when I’ve done all the research and actually know how everything works. When do all the when’s actually happen? Never.

I believe we are all collectively called to leave the world better than when we entered it. And we can’t wait for the stars to align and the conditions to be perfect to start working on this mission. Unfortunately, there is so much wrong in the world that the opportunities and options to change and improve our little piece of it are vast.

And in every area of our lives there are changes we can implement to make great shifts. We already know many of these. Recycling, buying less things, eating less / no meat, alternative transportation, reducing plastic use, responsible shopping…and the list goes on. 

MORE WORK TO BE DONE

Those are the steps we know we need to make to help the planet survive; to turn the tide on climate change. But, there is so more work to be done. Social justice work. Learning about privilege, equal rights for LGBTQ and minorities, breaking down gender barriers, fighting a broken criminal justice system, raising awareness for child abuse, spousal abuse, child and sex trafficking, drug and alcohol abuse, gun violence at schools and the list goes on…

Do you feel the emotional barriers rising in yourself just reading through that list? When it get to be too much, something clicks in our brains and we become numb to the facts, the numbers, the calls to action.

Here’s where the perfectly imperfect comes in. The secret is we don’t have to learn it all and do it all at once. And we don’t have to feel ashamed for not doing everything. Often there is a feeling of overwhelm, “if I do A, then I need to X, Y and Z too”. But hear this. If we try to do everything at once, we will definitely fail. 

CHOOSE ONE THING

Just choose one thing and start doing it now. The moment you start working towards making something better with purpose, you will immediately reap the rewards in how you feel. Here’s some tips on how to go about it:

1. First, hear the call.

   Let yourself be vulnerable and open to opportunities around you. Count yourself part of a community with a shared purpose to do better for our world and society.

2. Brain dump.

   A brain dump is when you take pen to paper (or fingers to keys) and write out a list of whatever comes to mind. What do you want to change? What injustice have you experienced, witnessed, read about or the thought of it keeps you awake at night. If it’s easier, you can brainstorm about positive actions you could take. From the actions you can work backwards to the cause.

3. Narrow the scope.

   We can only do one thing at a time well. Close your eyes and listen with your heart. What are you most being called to do? Choose one tactic to implement or cause to start supporting first. You can always add more later.

4. Show and tell.

   Start learning and doing at the same time. Don’t wait to read all the things. Start sharing your journey with your family and friends. What we do in our homes has an impact, but when we talk about it outside our home, that’s when the ripple effect occurs. That’s also when we learn from others perspectives.

5. Encourage and be humble.

   Help create a space of no judgement. Be vulnerable and open when you share. Always frame your actions as part a journey. There is a lot of pressure to be perfect in the world of social media, “If I even try and share that I’m doing this, then I’ll be called out for doing this other thing wrong or not doing something else right.” Don’t fall into this trap. People can be critical, but creating a community of encouragers starts with us. 

6. Be ready to fail fabulously.

   It’s okay if you get it wrong. It’s okay if you try something and it’s a flop. You’re doing something, that’s already worth more than 10 people sitting on the couch watching Netflix. When we fail, we learn, we improve, we pivot and we move on to greatness.

7. Be patient.

   Greatness and real impact can take time. If you’re trying to shift the way you do something, you’re creating new habits. It takes 6-8 weeks of consistency to form a real habit. 

8. Engage your Circles of Influence.

   Once you’ve got it down, look how you can expand your impact. Can you leverage your job, your company, your school, your church, your gym, your local city council to make greater impact and shift changes? Companies often support causes that their employees are passionate about. It never hurts to ask. The worst someone can say is no. Maybe it takes 10 no’s to get to a yes. But that one yes makes it all worthwhile. And usually one or two yesses gets the bandwagon rolling.

9. One down, more to go.

   Once you’ve got a full grasp on one tactic or cause, move on to the next and start over from the top.

You are meant for greatness and you got this!