While laying in bed last night, I caught parts of the #leadfromwithin Twitter discussion, topic being "focus." For me, what became glaringly evident throughout is that learning to focus is a lot like going to the optometrist to get new glasses.
When things start to get blurry, you begin to recognize it is time for a change. Where are you going to go? To someone who can help you gain clarity - be that a mentor, a colleague, or a friend or family member. They help you find what works best, but only you know your eyes - your heart - and what exactly it is you need right now. Lenses 2 or 3? 3 or 4? 3 or 5? You begin to see what will best benefit you, what change will help you focus better. And although your prescription may not change, it is important to reassess your vision periodically, to make sure everything is as golden as it was last.
On the other hand, there are times we don't know, or someone else doesn't know, how weak their vision may be. I recall being in third grade and not being able to read the board from afar. My teacher talked to my parents about possibly needing glasses, as she recognized the troubles I was having, but I was in denial. At the time, I'd rather have had to squint than have to get glasses. And don't we all know people like that? Someone in our lives who would benefit from change, needs change, but maybe can't come to terms with the change necessary. How do we, as teachers, get them the help they need? More importantly, how do we, as students, recognize and accept the change that we need in our lives?
There is an indescribable excitement that comes with getting new lenses. The first time you put them on and you see everything with greater clarity... you see things you may not have noticed before, and suddenly the world is new.
Showing posts with label change. Show all posts
Showing posts with label change. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
What We Can Learn from KONY 2012
I am sure, or at the very least I hope, that you have seen the words 'KONY 2012' somewhere on your newsfeed or timeline. If you don't know what the phrase means, a quick explanation: The 'Kony' is Joseph Kony, leader of the Lord's Resistance Army, who abducts children and makes them become children soldiers for his army, forcing them to help him in his brutality and destruction. He has been listed as the number one person wanted for crimes against humanity and the International Criminal Court wants to arrest him. Invisible Children wants 2012 to be the year that this happens. They released this video about their campaign.
Invisible Children is not the first organization working to create change, and won't be the last, so what I want to talk about is what we can learn from their most recent campaign.
What made the Kony 2012 campaign spread so quickly?
1) Awareness. Last week many people did not know who Joseph Kony was, or the LRA, or that young children were being abducted from their homes, being forced to kill and serve as sex slaves.
Awareness is POWERFUL. I have seen so many youth post that the sharing of Kony 2012 has restored their faith in humanity, but why were you ever losing faith? Honest question. Sometimes it is not that people don't want change - they might not be aware that change is needed. Assume ignorance and look for the teachable moments in day-to-day life.
2) Delivery. Last week many people would not be willing to give up 30 minutes of their day to watch a movie about a 'charity,' or let's be honest, anything really.
Delivery matters. The video was efficient, the believers were passionate, the story was compelling, and we were told what we could do to help. It is more than making us aware, it is giving us the tools. Had Invisible Children had no action plan, would Kony 2012 have lifted off as much as it has? Sometimes it is not that people don't want change - it is that they don't know how to create change aside from monetary contributions. Sometimes it is explicitly telling someone what they can do to be helpful that moves them to lend a hand.
3) Community. Last week many people probably did not engage in conversation with their friends or family members about how they want to change the world.
The Invisible Children Action Kits come with two bracelets - one for you, and one to give to someone else. It is not my belief that no one cares, but rather that no one talks about what they care about. I think that we all have something we are passionate about, but we must recognize the possibility to amplify that passion and who is affected by it by conversing with others. Conversing, being another key word - willing to listen and open to dialogue. There is strength in numbers, and if we are all talking, there is no way our voices cannot be heard.
The power to pass along a video, or a message, or write government representatives, the power to ultimately help others, is always in our hands, in some way. We all have our individual lives and while there are those like Jason Russell who can dedicate close to 100% of their time to a cause, the reality is that most of us can't. However, whatever percentage we can - 25%, 15%, 10% - helps. We all must actively participate in some capacity for change to happen.
The first step in working for change is recognizing our role. What will you do to make change today? Listen? Share? Create?
Invisible Children is not the first organization working to create change, and won't be the last, so what I want to talk about is what we can learn from their most recent campaign.
What made the Kony 2012 campaign spread so quickly?
1) Awareness. Last week many people did not know who Joseph Kony was, or the LRA, or that young children were being abducted from their homes, being forced to kill and serve as sex slaves.
Awareness is POWERFUL. I have seen so many youth post that the sharing of Kony 2012 has restored their faith in humanity, but why were you ever losing faith? Honest question. Sometimes it is not that people don't want change - they might not be aware that change is needed. Assume ignorance and look for the teachable moments in day-to-day life.
2) Delivery. Last week many people would not be willing to give up 30 minutes of their day to watch a movie about a 'charity,' or let's be honest, anything really.
Delivery matters. The video was efficient, the believers were passionate, the story was compelling, and we were told what we could do to help. It is more than making us aware, it is giving us the tools. Had Invisible Children had no action plan, would Kony 2012 have lifted off as much as it has? Sometimes it is not that people don't want change - it is that they don't know how to create change aside from monetary contributions. Sometimes it is explicitly telling someone what they can do to be helpful that moves them to lend a hand.
3) Community. Last week many people probably did not engage in conversation with their friends or family members about how they want to change the world.
The Invisible Children Action Kits come with two bracelets - one for you, and one to give to someone else. It is not my belief that no one cares, but rather that no one talks about what they care about. I think that we all have something we are passionate about, but we must recognize the possibility to amplify that passion and who is affected by it by conversing with others. Conversing, being another key word - willing to listen and open to dialogue. There is strength in numbers, and if we are all talking, there is no way our voices cannot be heard.
The power to pass along a video, or a message, or write government representatives, the power to ultimately help others, is always in our hands, in some way. We all have our individual lives and while there are those like Jason Russell who can dedicate close to 100% of their time to a cause, the reality is that most of us can't. However, whatever percentage we can - 25%, 15%, 10% - helps. We all must actively participate in some capacity for change to happen.
The first step in working for change is recognizing our role. What will you do to make change today? Listen? Share? Create?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)