embodied activism & resilience

“At its best, activism is a form of healing. It is about what we do and how we show up in the world. It is about learning and expressing regard, compassion, and love.”

~ Resmaa Menakem

Standing up and speaking out against social norms that are causing social opression and the climate crisis, in whatever form, is an act of activism.

We are all born with the capacity to express ourselves and to protest when injustice is done to us or to others. Every human being has the right to stand up for themselves and for others. To do this, you need access to your caring, your heart, your voice, your courage, your strength.

Sustainable activism is about moving back and forth between pain and action. If we move too quickly from pain to action and don’t allow ourselves time to mourn what we have already lost and are yet to lose, we try to mask our pain with solutions. This can burn us out.

The reality is this: it is already too late to stop losing what is being lost. And everything we do can prevent things of getting worse.

These times call for inner activism and outward activism (Caroline Hickman). The inner process of daring to feel our fear and grief can fuel the vitality we need to use our voices and take action to address injustice and stand up for life. This is what brings meaning and creates hope.

“Hope is not the conviction that something will turn out well, but the certainty that something makes sense, regardless of how it turns out.” ~Vaclav Havel

Foto: Michiel Wijnbergh