Ups and downs of social change work: how to prevent ourselves and our peers from being discouraged?

Are there better ways to take care of ourselves, our peers, and the community or causes we serve?

Recently, I've been looking back at my work commitments and the way my career has evolved. Paradoxical feelings color my work as a social changemaker: skepticism, fear, doubt, passion, inspiration, hope. While reacting to the ups and downs of social work, I'm looking for practical ways to maintain (or renew) my energy, dedication, joy, and serenity at work and with my family. I'm sharing some of my insights through this post, but I would also like to invite you to comment and share some of your learnings. 

Social service work and social entrepreneurship brought intense emotions and experiences into my life, from learning the theoretical concept of non-profit management to working on the ground, witnessing the convoluted and connected social crises that affects our communities and all of us individually. Whatever the cause, or societal issue that we are currently working on, there will always be a new social or environmental injustice that will deserve close attention. Our "to-do good" list can indeed be endless. Mine looks like this one: "addressing professional resettlement of refugee women, expanding ethical and sustainability practices within the manufacturing industry, advocating for employees' wellbeing, promoting access to dignified work opportunities for all, advocating against exploitation of natural resources, etc.".

Personally, from time to time, witnessing the immensity of the work ahead paralyzes and prevents me from engaging in any form. Often, the following questions come into my mind: What is my "power" here? How could I even imagine that my work, or personal engagement toward a cause I cherish, has any impact or influence? Is this job/work worth continuing? I also realized that the environment where I worked altered my perception of my ability to contribute to change.

Our work environment includes the quality of the relationships with our colleagues, and our understanding and acceptance of our organization's culture, history, and values. These affect our ability to serve and evolve professionally and personally. If our work brings us financial stability, meaning, and joy, we will undoubtedly have the energy to give back and serve more efficiently and serenely. However, working in the social change sector doesn't necessarily lead to a sustainable income or ensure access to the resources we need to operate. It is also common for our efforts to be unrecognized. It is not surprising to see our energy decrease and our willingness to continue our work vanish in this context.  Whether we are self-employed, contractors, or long-term staff, our work can't always offer the supportive conditions necessary to contribute to our success. What alternatives and solutions shall we then undertake to prevent ourselves and our peers from being discouraged? 

One solution could be to surround ourselves with friends and peers that are supportive, reliable, and relatable. Building professional and personal relationships based on shared experiences, trust, and reciprocity can help establish a support system when we feel low in our careers. To prevent burnout, we could also try to increase our ability to understand and set professional boundaries by clarifying with our colleagues and clients what we can offer and what we can't. We could also learn how to become less self-judgmental by accepting that the messiness and unpredictable nature of the social change sector will undoubtedly challenge our capacity and limit  our impact. Finally, to help us move forward, we need to be clear with our intentions and the values that drive them by asking ourselves: What are we honestly trying to achieve, with whom, and what working conditions can we tolerate? 

I'm curious to know more about your experience, feedback, and insights on engaging in our work more mindfully. Are there better ways to take care of ourselves, our peers, and the community or causes we serve? I'm looking forward to hearing your comments.

Yours

Sandrine

RESCAPE Member and Founder