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LeftyMom

(49,212 posts)
33. Identify a problem that's within your reach, do something about it.
Sun Nov 3, 2013, 02:43 AM
Nov 2013

Lather, rinse, repeat.

Burnout is usually caused by struggling with problems that are too big for you to handle, in my experience. Or trying to solve everything in one go. Successful social movements never, ever work that way.

Practice self-care. If you feel yourself getting overwhelmed it's okay to choose to step back or shift gears. If the bank account is running low you don't donate your grocery money, so if your energy and enthusiasm are running low don't take on a project you don't have it in you to do well right now. Say no sometimes, an activist community where one person does all the work isn't healthy. Don't be that person and if somebody else is step up and lighten their load (and be aware that if their identity is in being a martyr to a movement that they're likely to resist assistance.)

So back to your OP, the problems that you list are overwhelming and some of them are probably lost causes. Some of them are problems that exist because of people you don't know in places you may never see, where your leverage is non-existent. You can't fix all of them, no one person can. But you have it within you to work diligently to create change in some small part of one of them. You find that part and you do your best, and you know that other people are doing the same with their little parts of bigger problems, and that that's how movements work. And you educate other people and grow the movement. Especially that.

Recommendations

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First, realize you have no real control over these things Warpy Feb 2013 #1
I know. And I'm getting to a better point where I should be able to send Flaxbee Feb 2013 #6
I rarely allow myself the luxury of denial in most of life's little tragedies but, Marie Marie Feb 2013 #2
Thank you, Marie Marie Flaxbee Feb 2013 #7
By realizing that 99% of the species of plants and animals that have existed on this planet stopbush Feb 2013 #3
I know. We're all part of a grand scheme, Flaxbee Feb 2013 #8
You wrote: "We're supposed to protect, not dominate." stopbush Feb 2013 #11
I don't believe the bible Flaxbee Feb 2013 #12
There is background extinction and there is mass extinction ellenrr Mar 2013 #20
Nobody eats rhino meat. longship Feb 2013 #4
Appoint me leader of the world, and I'll save everyone and everything. Flaxbee Feb 2013 #9
Actually, they do Warpy Feb 2013 #13
I know - people are hungry, and I do understand Flaxbee Feb 2013 #15
Honestly, I don't often allow myself Control-Z Feb 2013 #5
Thanks, Control-Z Flaxbee Feb 2013 #10
I am with you also on this, Flaxbee. narnian60 Feb 2013 #14
same here. I just want to save them all, and convince people to stop being Flaxbee Feb 2013 #17
I had a bowl of chili tonight otherone Feb 2013 #16
coping... ellenrr Feb 2013 #18
I'm trying to keep laughing stuntcat Mar 2013 #19
I agree and I admire you for this ellenrr Mar 2013 #21
Just unpacked my copy of "Deep Ecology" from the current move... villager Oct 2013 #28
I'm feeling the same way.. ellenrr Oct 2013 #30
some comments about non-human animals ellenrr Mar 2013 #22
I'm the wrong person to ask. CrispyQ Mar 2013 #23
I do Tonglen leftyladyfrommo Mar 2013 #24
Message auto-removed Name removed Oct 2013 #25
Can they put them in elephant ivory, too? And bear bile ducts? Flaxbee Oct 2013 #26
Message auto-removed Name removed Oct 2013 #27
I pray Prophet 451 Oct 2013 #29
I read enough about a subject Beringia Oct 2013 #31
I made a decision. flvegan Nov 2013 #32
Identify a problem that's within your reach, do something about it. LeftyMom Nov 2013 #33
Latest Discussions»Culture Forums»Vegetarian, Vegan and Animal Rights»I don't want to be depres...»Reply #33