Reflections on Action

by Orly Wahba

Action can oftentimes be mistaken for simply doing. But true, positive action is infused with purpose, intention and fueled by passion. Action requires a great deal of strength, vulnerability and forces us to trust in ourselves and what we stand for. Each and every one of us holds within our hearts thoughts, ideals, hopes and dreams for the world. The question is what do we do with those thoughts? Do we simply allow them to exist in the recesses of our minds, buried beneath the surface, something we only voice once we hear others sharing those same thoughts? Or do we search for the strength within our hearts to share our message with the world, despite the fact that it may fall on deaf ears? When we fear what others think of us it’s close to impossible to live our truth, but our truth is the greatest asset we have to give to this world. Imagine if we all lived our truth and let go of the fear that our thoughts don’t deserve to be heard.

Growing up I was extremely shy, but it was actually more than that – I didn’t have the confidence to share my thoughts openly with others. At a young age, the troubles of the world would weigh on my heart like a ton of bricks. I felt the pain of others in a way that is hard for me to explain. I felt connected to this world and the people in it in a deep way and believed that I would be a key player in taking action and righting the wrongs. However, I lacked the confidence to stand by my beliefs in the midst of a sea of people mocking me for thinking that I could possibly change anything. My confidence has grown since then by leaps and bounds, and while I have become so much more vocal and followed suit with action, I know in the depths of my heart that what I’ve given of myself pales in comparison to what I still have inside of me to give.

I believe in action and have put action into motion, but what stops me from going the distance? Is it possible that while I have come so far, I am still controlled by what others will think? Action is a choice that must be chosen consistently every single day. It is my belief that we all have a beautiful vision for the world we are living in but we can become fearful to share it openly. I for one don’t want to settle for anything less than my true and ultimate potential. Recognizing our potential is scary because we then have the responsibility to follow through with action.

I look at the world and rejoice in how many more doers have emerged but I know that there is still a great deal of us that need to be reminded of something we already know; that when we all take action, in unison, the impossible is possible. My hope for this world isn’t simply to spread kindness, my hope for this world is to help people unveil the strengths within themselves because it is my belief that when we all live our truths – we can collectively resolve each and every issue we face as the human race. We are closer than we have ever been, but to break through we MUST all take action. The true kryptonite of action is the deep seeded belief many of us have that one person can’t make a difference, that we don’t matter. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Let us all remember that “The simple fact that you are here is proof enough to know you’re dear.”