Tap Into Your Passion
Are you itching to volunteer or get involved on an issue, but not sure where to focus your time? Read on.
STEP 1 Check in with your gut.
Sometimes, you witness an injustice so obvious or see something so inspiring, that you feel compelled to act on it. But when you are having difficulty tapping into your specific passion for social justice, try this exercise:
Write down a list of the people and places you care about most. Next to each one, write down the one or two things that might improve their lives or situations. Maybe your aunt is having trouble affording her prescription medications. Maybe the park where you used to play as a kid is covered in trash. Or maybe your local school district is struggling to keep its art programs amid district-wide budget cuts. Each of these items directly relates to a larger social justice issue — one that could use your help.
STEP 2 Read up on the issues.
Jewish tradition teaches that learning is the most important thing someone can do, because learning leads to action. Gaining a deeper understanding about an issue connects you to its core values and empowers you to act with conviction. So before you decide to volunteer, read up on your issue:
- Search around Repair the World’s Knowledgebase
- Search online for more information
- Hit the library, a local bookstore or Amazon to find books on the subject.
- Organize a text study around the issue with friends
STEP 3 Weigh your potential impact.
Once you’ve tapped into and read up on your issue, consider: how might you make the biggest positive impact? Is there a particular piece of the issue that you feel most compelled to work on? Is there an existing organization that could benefit from your time and skills? Do you feel inspired to start an organization or project of your own? Any action you take is good — so take your passion and run with it!
