“We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.”—Albert Einstein
You have to be creative to change the world. Think of the civil rights workers right here in Mississippi: They decided to bring down violent segregation by practicing non-violence, with local blacks hand-in-hand with young whites from outside the South. And they did it to a backdrop of inspiring Freedom Songs that helped bolster their courage.
Now, their story inspires us to do more for our city and state. Don’t downplay the power of your own storytelling, whether orally or in writing. Tell your story and allow it to empower others. Just sit down and write it, or blog, or tweet it out in short spurts.
At EpicChange.org, the stories and voices of “grassroots changemakers and social entrepreneurs” are shared precisely to inspire others to take action in various ways, including ways to make money to put toward social good.
There is no better use for story than that.
TIP: Everyone can write if you bother to. Just don’t assume it’s supposed to be perfect on first draft. Sit down and just let the words come out without stopping. Then go back and let your left brain help you edit it. You never know: Your story may save someone’s life.
PROMPT: “A turning point in my life was …” Sit down and write without thinking for 30 minutes on that topic.
The Mississippi Free Press produced this story through the MFP Solutions Lab, supported by the Solutions Journalism Network. This series digs into Mississippi’s systemic issues and sheds light on responses to them in other communities. Beyond just reporting on problems, these stories interrogate their causes and inspect potential solutions.
