Be The Purple Flower - 5 (Very Important) Reasons Your Actions Matter

The Art of Influencing Change

I know the thought of changing the world can be tantalizing.

It’s like we deep inside know we can make an impact, but when the daily impression we get is that our actions are incredibly tiny compared to the political influence of the few, not to mention the power of dirty industries, it’s hard not to get discouraged.

Move on to trying to influence your aunt (or yet — your partner) to live more sustainably, and suddenly you feel like your feet have dug themselves twelve inches into the ground.

You’re not even snailing in your efforts anymore, you’re sinking.

I get it, feeling like our small actions don’t matter is normal. I would even go as far as to say it’s justified. Because, to play the devil’s advocate here, they don’t measure much when it comes to the stubbornly rooted systems we exist within.

However, and here’s the beautiful caveat, they actually do.

This is why we cannot afford to give in to the thinking that we don’t matter, especially in a time when we matter more than ever before.

Let me introduce you to the concept of the Purple Flower.

The Purple Flower

Think of a field of yellow flowers. Beautiful? You bet! But why is the field yellow? Because so far, nothing but yellow seeds have been planted there. And because all those pretty yellow flowers are doing a darn good job spreading their little yellow flower seeds all around.

In comes one purple flower. That’s you. I want you to imagine yourself as a purple flower entering a yellow flower field. At first, you’ll be a pretty odd prick — the tiny purple dot in a sea of yellow. But if you’re stubborn enough, if you trust in your thoughts and visions enough and stand your ground, your seeds will start planting as well.

At first, the purple dot might remain seemingly small, but keep trusting and let the wind do its thing. Before you know it, seeds will travel to other parts of the field, and little purple dots will begin to appear all over. And who knows, soon enough it may not be a yellow field with some purple flowers anymore - it might turn into a yellow and purple field.

This is the power of influence.

When you actively choose to be something different, you will stand out a little at first. You will be the one purple flower in a yellow field.

But remember that change you may not be able to see yet is on its way. Every time you walk into a restaurant and order a plant-based option, every time you bring your own utensils, and every time you say or do something you believe in, you’re planting seeds. People see that and they begin to process it in their own time. And before you know it, those seeds will start to grow.

You don’t have to “win”

Also, remember that this is not a competition, and you don’t have to “win” every argument. I know it can be frustrating when someone else doesn’t get it or seems not to care, but don’t waste your energy in the wrong places. Know that you have planted a seed and that although you may never see what that seed grows into, change might already be underway.

People come to awareness at their own time, and the more seeds you plant, the faster we can start growing a new field together!

Photo by bennett tobias on Unsplash

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5 (very important) reasons your individual actions matter

1. They make you feel better

2. They build character

3. They plant seeds

4. They shift norms and culture

5. They build community and belonging

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Comedy + Climate Change

They've done it again - this time on American grounds! The new “Climate Science Translated” is here with comedian David Cross (of Arrested Development) and scientist Michael Oppenheimer (of Princeton University).

Is the climate crisis amusing? Fuck yes. (Or not really, but sometimes a bif ot comedy can help us get the message across. Watch the video below and see what you think!)

Thank you, Nick Oldridge, Henrik, and Ben Carey at Climate Science Breakthrough, as always, for your amazing work!

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The Hey Change Podcast is BACK!

In case you’ve missed it, I’m (excitedly) announcing again that the Hey Change Podcast is back after a 3-year hiatus, and we’re kickstarting season five with the Director of Sustainability at Microsoft for an invigorating conversation on all things optimism. Charlie Sellars is also the author of the newly released book What We Can Do: A Climate Optimist's Guide to Sustainable Living, and this is an episode you don’t want to miss!

Tune in and subscribe below: