The Influential Nonprofit: Episode 119: Maryanne Dersch: How To Create Systemic Change
Honor struggle as it is the first step towards creating change. The next step is to bring into awareness any eternal solution that we treat as a magic wand. The third step is letting go of that magic wand and instead looking inside of ourselves.
Step four is to wield anger as a tool for transformation, change, and revolution. Claim these words: “I deserve better. Enough of this, I take my power back.” Realize that somewhere along the way you’ve given your power away, and through this realization, you can take it back.
Step five is possibility. New ideas, new systems, new energy, and new stories emerge from the anger and you start to create from a place of openness and possibility rather than fear.
The last step is neutrality. This is when you begin to understand that nothing is ever good or bad, everything is just information. Every experience is a part of the process, and each of them has a role to play.
We don't value struggle. We don't value difficulty as a part of the process. We want change, but not feel uncomfortable. We want change but don't want to feel scared.
Anger is an obstacle when it isn't the energy of change. When people get angry, it means they care. Nothing has changed without anger.
Helping people come to that place of neutrality then allows for change to happen. Individuals make up communities and communities create systems. And so the communities are the ones that can change the system.
ASK FOR AND RECEIVE ALL YOU WANT NEED AND DESERVE WITHOUT FEELING REJECTED, INEFFECTIVE, OR PUSHY.
Learn to manage your mindset, lead yourself and others more effectively and have the meaningful conversations that drive your most important work.