Someone needs to do something

I am always amused when I hear someone say this. Sometimes they are staring at me, with the silent, but loud suggestion that I am the someone.

Many of us feel pain at the injustices in our societies and desperately want things to change. But we stand on the sidelines waiting for “someone” to take action. I count myself among this group, for there is so much for someone to do, yet I do not step up to be that someone.

Here are some reasons for us not stepping up:

1. We don’t have the time
2. We don’t feel strongly enough about the issue
3. We are fearful of the personal repercussions
4. We are concerned about what others will say
5. We are afraid of the limelight
6. We don’t really know exactly what “something” that needs to be done, is
7. We believe we don’t have the skills or knowledge
8. We believe we don’t have enough power

These are really excuses – the main reason we don’t step up is FEAR. Those who do something may seem fearless but they are not – they just act in spite of their fear. The rest of us allow our fear to deflect attention from ourselves and point the finger of action away from ourselves, to someone else.

The next time you make the statement that “someone needs to do something”, stop and ask yourself: Could “someone” be you? We can’t do everything, so we have to choose what we commit our time and energy to. So in answering the question, consider:

• How strongly do I feel about this issue?
• What fears do I have?
• If I didn’t have those fears, what would I do?
• Who else that’s important in my life might be affected?
• Who can I count on to support me?

And then take action … or choose not to. And if you choose not to, then leave others to do the same for themselves.