The world is full of followers. F that.

If you have an idea, a dream, an agenda, a cause— it’s your responsibility to take action.

I know. Big words, right? Responsibility sounds like a burden. Maybe it is when it’s in a job you dislike or on the days when you wish you could get a break from your kids, or when the bills show up in your mailbox.

That kind of responsibility does suck. But it has to be dealt with. It’s life.

I’m not talking about that. I’m talking about being true to yourself.

For everyone who has the courage to dive deep into themselves to find and define what shines within them, you cannot wait. You cannot ignore the calling. Whether it’s to teach poetry to prisoners, or tour the world giving lectures on the impact that Frankenstein had on horror movies, or it’s arranging crystals into grids for deep healing, when you feel your thing deeply, you must take action.

When we hear that calling and ignore it, everything suffers. You become stilted. Your energy diffuses into other things. Yes, maybe they’re necessary things, but they are not what makes your heart beat loud.

When you take action on what you love, on what you believe— a change occurs. First the change is in yourself. You’ll find that you’re energized in your work. Instead of feeling depleted, pissed off, and part of the giant machine that is this world and this economy, you’ll have moments of flow. Moments of joy. 

The change occurs first in yourself. But that’s just the beginning.

When you honor the truth in your heart, bones and soul — and have the courage and conviction to step out of what you know and into a new world — you become a leader. Once you lead yourself, you can lead others.

A leader’s biggest gift is showing others that they can lead too. This is a much bigger deal than it seems. Here’s why.

From the day we’re born, we’re bombarded with messages from family, peers, educational systems, media and corporate interests. Although these may sometimes be for your benefit, often they’re not. Or they’re misguided.

When you’re a leader, you see through to your truth, your dream. You’re willing to take actions and risks. You’re willing to put effort into making the world better in whatever way that calls to you. When you lead in this way— with authentic truth, connection and passion— there is always a response.

Perhaps the world changes for the better. Perhaps others see your example and find the courage to act on their own truth. Perhaps you find freedom and truth in your own life. 

When you hear the call, even if it’s a faint whisper, it’s your responsibility to act. To be a leader. Because this world is fragmented and roiling in chaos. We need you to lead in the direction that is true for you.