Change is the only constant

Activists seek justice under circumstances of tyranny, truth under circumstances of domination, and freedom under circumstances of oppression. We seek change because we deplore the status quo — but also because we recognize the need for continuous improvement. Yet, when it come to ourselves and the ways we’ve grown accustomed to doing things, we often enter a stage of forgetfulness about the most obvious and basic thing we know and call for: change.

Change begins with self. Not only must our social, political, environmental, and economic circumstances change, so must we be the change you want to see in the world. In order to be effective, our approaches and methods must always be reviewed, assessed, and adjusted. We must be willing to recognize and shift our own obsolete mindsets and abandon all constants. If we truly want to change the world, we must recognize that change is the only constant.

This action-reflection process is an ongoing journey of learning that, like a circle, has no beginning or end.

Acting from the premise that change is the only constant, you soon realize that there is not a single “right” way to engage in collective action, but rather many right ways. For change to materialize, such action must remain in a state of continuous development. This action-reflection process is an ongoing journey of learning that, like a circle, has no beginning or end (see: PRINCIPLE: Praxis makes perfect).

For example, when a movement or campaign is first launched, it may start with a group of five and a particular decision-making process. Over time this group becomes comfortable with their mode of operation, but when your group grows to 50 organizers, your situation will be drastically different, and you need to accept the fact that your decision-making process will need to change. This applies to many elements of campaigning, from recruitment to tactics to organization and more.

Embracing the principle that change is the only constant helps us be more open to others’ feedback and ideas. Just because a new perspective is not in accord with your own, or even if it negates a deeply held belief by the larger group, this does not mean it should be discarded. On the contrary, it is in this moment that the group must pause and rethink their mindsets. Let go of your ego, be humble and appreciate others’ insight and perspectives. Look for new and effective approaches to your campaign.

Also, just because a tactic works once, that doesn’t mean we should use it over and over (see: PRINCIPLE: Don’t fall in love with your tactics). We should become comfortable with experimentation and the possibility of failure (see: PRINCIPLE: Fail forward); only in this way will you enrich your learning and improve.

Finally, be aware of your broader context (see: PRINCIPLE: Know your cultural terrain) as well as your local circumstances (see: PRINCIPLE: Know your community). The socio-political dynamics of our world today are vibrant and complex, requiring us to always be on the lookout, analysing what’s happening and understanding how such changes in dynamics might affect our campaigning.

Originally published in Beautiful Rising.