Levels of Small Action
Cultivating Emotionally Sustainable Activism
Pressing issues of our time are urging us
to take action towards social change.
Yet, to avoid burnout
we need to engage in ways that are emotionally sustainable.
A supportive way to reach balance is through Levels of Small Actions.
Levels of
Small Actions
FOUR LEVELS
OF SMALL ACTIONS:
Personally: What small action can I take
to support myself to stay engaged?
Locally: What small action can my
personal in-group do to contribute their bit?
Collectively: With what small action
can I support a community organisation?
Globally: With what small action can I
support a global social change initiative?
Personally
Locally
Collectively
Globally
Globally
Collectively
Personally
Personally
Personally
Personally
Personally
Locally
Locally
Locally
Locally
Locally
Locally
Levels of
1.Take care of ourselves
Small Actions
Through working across these Levels we can:
2.Honour that our voice is valid
3.Remember that we are not alone
Globally
Personally
Collectively
Locally
Personally
Personally
Personally
Personally
Personally
Personally
Locally
Locally
Locally
Locally
Locally
Locally
Locally
"Alone we can do so little.
Together we can do so much."
Helen Heller
Identifying small actions that can support us personally to stay engaged (e.g. joining a community).
Personally
STAGE 2: Prejudices describe negative attitudes
towards people who belong to a particular social group.
Stereotypes
Prejudices
STAGE 3: Discrimination describes behaviours
and actions which privilege or exclude a certain group.
Stereotypes
Prejudices
Discrimination
STAGE 4: Self-fulfilling prophecies describe situations where
prejudice and discrimination push a group to behave in a
way that confirms a stereotype.
Stereotypes
Prejudices
Discrimination
Self-Fulfilling
Prophecies
The cycle of stereotypes is often part of our
daily lives without us noticing.
How can you act with awareness to help break the cycle?
Stereotypes
Prejudices
Discrimination
Self-Fulfilling
Prophecies
