Ever been shut down? Ever been told you can’t do it? That it’s too hard, too crazy, not normal?

There are no shortage of naysayers in the world, the kind of people who tell you your efforts aren’t worth it and will be in vain.  The kind of people who are scared, like lobsters in a bucket pulling the adventurers back down.

“You can’t really make a difference, you are only one person.”  There’s a common one.

You know what, maybe they are right. I am only one person. It’s a practical argument.  But I move ahead anyways, I still do it.

Because I understand that every revolution has two stages.

Stage One

When the revolution is in early development, when it is only a conviction in your heart, do it to satisfy your conscience.

At this point, maybe the naysayers are correct; maybe your small efforts don’t make a difference to the world.  Let’s use the paper-free revolution as an example.

According to payitgreen.org, by switching to online financial statements,  you can save 6.6 lbs of paper per year.  Whoo-hoo, small potatoes.  It doesn’t make much of a difference to the world.

But it does make a difference to you.  You have a clean conscience.  You can sleep easy at night, knowing that you did your part.

If you don’t buy the green argument, then use another example.  Whatever it is, if you believe in it, do it!

The peace of mind from following your beliefs outweighs the slander from naysayers.

Stage Two

This is where the wildfire catches on.  Your persistence and good example have yeilded results.

The revolution grows as others adopt your convictions and learn the truth for themselves.

Victory is sweet and the critics are reduced to pesky flies on the rear end of your elephantine movement (maybe  I got carried away with that one).

This is the stage you hope to get to, but, I must say that many revolutions never get past stage one.  Do not despair.

Follow your conscience rather than the voice of the crowd.  Your personal revolution is more important than giving in to the naysayers.

Tags: revolutionary, revolutions

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