My childhood was extremely tumultuous and, for that reason, a huge driving factor in my support of a cause is the children being directly affected. I have an intense drive to enhance the lives of children because I wish someone would’ve done the same for me. For this reason, I cannot support businesses that inadvertently or directly harm children in the pursuit of profit. I also find myself aligning with causes that advocate for better conditions for children. My prominent personality traits relating to social change advocacy are empathy, authenticity, and patience. These traits cause me to support businesses and causes that share these traits. If authentic people are patiently gathering all necessary information while being empathetic to the lives of everyone around them, that is a group of people I will align myself with. I’m also very spiritual and feel a genuine connection with the Earth and all of its inhabitants, so I’m very inclined to support causes that advocate for the respect and protection of nature.

My social class is a major influence in my ethical decision making. When I choose to support a specific cause, a lot of my involvement can be attributed to the relatability of the cause. I know what it feels like to live in extreme poverty, and I know what it feels like to be middle-class. Because I have these lived experiences, I find myself better able to relate to causes that advocate for change in these arenas.

Coming into adulthood after living for so long in survival mode is a weird transition. The future was never really planned for because every day consisted of doing what was necessary to live. Cognitive dissonance is something I struggled with frequently before learning how to realign my ideals and actions. The biggest help has been meditation and reflection. Evaluating where I am currently in comparison to where I was 5, 10, or 15 years ago helps me understand the changes that inevitably come with living. This reflection allows me to see true progress, which aids in reflection on my present goals and actions. Journaling also helps me to determine goals and ensure I’m living in ways that support my ideals and values.

Sometimes we may not notice that our actions are misaligned with our beliefs. We may have biases that we aren’t aware of, and we tend to go through the motions of life without much thought. By taking time to write out our beliefs and ideals, and actively thinking of ways our life might not be in harmony with those, we are increasing cognitive consonance. Another helpful tool in improving this arena is the use of therapy. When exploring ourselves with the help of a third party, we may be better able to recognize when our actions are not aligned with our beliefs and a therapist may aid in pointing out inconsistencies as well.