“Swear Jar”
Guilt can motivate us, or cripple us. Turn your guilty little secrets into action! Every time you indulge whatever guilty habits you have, do something to fuel the resistance. Get creative! Call Congress every time you “keep the peace” or hand cash to someone down on their luck when you buy from places you don’t support.
How to do it:
This is an action that requires a bit of planning, but offers endless opportunity. You can make it formal, dropping money in a jar until there’s enough to donate, or you can do it informally, keeping a few ones in your wallet and handing them to someone on the street. You can even make it like Catholic penance : the bigger the “sin” the more dollars you give. Or not! Choose a framing that feels good to you. The goal is to turn your negative thoughts into positive action.
Here are some ideas for inspiration, but set up a plan that suits you!
- Not calling out MAGA Dad, for Mom’s sake -> call your Senator and let loose!
- Lapsed on a habit you’re trying to quit -> small donation to favorite charity
- Bought something on Prime -> spend an equal amount at a local business.
- Did something avoidable that stressed you out -> hand cash to someone on the street
- Didn’t “get your steps” (missed a goal) -> do a 5 minute task to feel accomplished
- Didn’t go to the protest -> leave positive comments on everyone’s posts
- Checked out for a week, or a month… -> fix your feed (an ongoing task!)
- Yelled at someone -> normalize apologizing well
You get the idea! Choose something you wish you weren’t doing, are trying not to do, or know you’re going to keep doing but feel guilt about, and pay your penance. Then let it go and move on! Make your guilt work for you, and for the resistance, then free yourself from it.
This post illustrated with an image from UnSplash (https://unsplash.com/license) or Wikimedia Commons (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) 
