Advocacy and Self-Abandonment

Too many people are getting it wrong. And they’re burning out.

Activism, ally-ship, and advocacy are all so important and a big part of how I choose to live my life and run my business. I think it’s crucial for artists, entertainers, and influencers to take a strong stand for the causes they care about and use their platforms to speak up.

But too many seem to miss the point- they put performative advocacy and activism before integrity or they forget themselves as they fight for others - and in the long run, this has the opposite effect that we’re striving for.

In Judaism, we are taught the famous words of Rabbi Hillel:

“If I am not for myself, who will be for me?

If I am only for myself, what am I?

If not now, when?”

This is the blueprint for advocacy and activism that I believe is most impactful. 

We must start with ourselves- making sure our own needs are met, that our own people aren’t being oppressed, that we have a full understanding of the issues we want to stand up for. From this place of integrity and wholeness we can stand up for others. The foundation must be strong first.

Of course, this isn’t linear - and we’re often fighting simultaneously for ourselves and for others - but forgetting yourself and your community, or even working agains their interests, will only create a wobbly foundation for the work you do for others.

Here are some things I want everyone in this space to remember:

👍 you can recognize your privilege and even your contribution to inequity without abandoning yourself and your own community’s needs

👍 you can advocate for change within your community without abandoning or demonizing it all together

👍 you can fight for the rights of others without forsaking your own rights or molding your identity to fit what others think about you or your community

👍 you can advocate for change without forgetting about your own mental health and taking care of yourself first

👍 you can take breaks 

👍 you don’t have to hop on every issue and every cause and become a “knee-jerk activist”

If you want to learn more about how to be an effective advocate without exhausting yourself or feeling like you can’t be truly yourself…. send me a note and let’s chat.