Be the CHANGE. Even When It’s Uncomfortable

There is a phrase hanging on the wall in my office. “Be the CHANGE you wish to see in the world.”

You’ve probably heard some version of it. It’s commonly attributed to Mahatma Gandhi, although the exact wording isn’t found in his documented writings. Regardless of its origins, those words have become a guiding principle in my life.

And I’ll tell you something. They’re a lot easier to hang on a wall than they are to live by. 😂 Because when we talk about changing the world, it’s tempting to focus on everything and everyone ELSE that needs to change. The politicians. The organizations. The systems. The people who disagree with us. The person who cut us off in traffic. (Seriously, though. What was THAT about?!)

But what happens when the person who needs to change is the one looking back at us in the mirror?

Oof. That’s a little less comfortable.

I’ve spent much of my life advocating for change. In classrooms, boardrooms, communities, and conversations around dinner tables. I’ve challenged policies. Questioned practices. Spoken up when something didn’t feel right. And sometimes, I’ve had to acknowledge that I was part of the problem I was trying to solve.

I’ve made assumptions. I’ve reacted defensively. I’ve held onto beliefs longer than I needed to. I’ve had moments when my intentions were good, but my impact wasn’t. And I’ve had to decide what to do with that realization.

Because being the CHANGE isn’t about being the person who is always right. It’s about being willing to recognize when you’re wrong. It’s about listening when someone tells you that your actions hurt them, even when that wasn’t your intention. It’s about having the courage to change your mind when you learn something new. And it’s about recognizing that the standards we hold for others also apply to us.

I don’t always get it right. Not even close. But every day gives me another opportunity to try.

Maybe that’s why I keep that phrase on my wall. Not because I’ve figured it all out. But because I haven’t.

It’s a reminder that I can’t demand transformation from the world while refusing to examine myself. The CHANGE I want to see in the world has to include me.

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