Are You The Next Rosa Parks? How To Harness The Power Of The Ripple Effect

I’ve just creating a slide for the Workshop I am running on Saturday.  It was a slide about what I call ‘The Ripple Effect.’

The effect where you are catalyst, and as a result of your actions and decisions, other events and actions and reactions continue to ripple out into the future.

TranceFormations TM water drop logo - A catalyst for lasting change and transformation
TranceFormations TM water drop logo – A catalyst for lasting change and transformation

This water drop ripple effect has been my logo since 2001, and has proven itself to hold true over the years as I reflect and look back on the lives of my Breakthrough Coaching clients.

Whilst taking a break Facebook reminded me of a few memories from this day over the years, and I came across this memory from 2013 and read what I wrote on this day 2 years ago.  I said:

“I saw this on Barack Obama‘s page.

Barack Obama on the Rosa Parks Bus - "She refused to give up her seat and changed America."
Barack Obama on the Rosa Parks Bus – “She refused to give up her seat and changed America.”

I’ve had so many seemingly unrelated conversations this month which all relate back to this moment. Powerful stuff.

You never know in any given moment how a small gesture or act by you can change the course of your life, someone else’s life, or even the course of history as we know it.

Take the step. Make the change. Say or do what feels authentic and right and good for you. Don’t try to evaluate how big or grand the change or impact will be, just take that first step.

It was just a few short steps from the back of the bus to the front, yet those small steps are now etched in our hearts, minds, and history books forever.

Marilyn Devonish – Making change one ripple at a time.”

And for me that’s the essence of creating big changes in life.  One brave or courageous step into the unknown at a time.

Rosa Parks of course wasn’t the first to refuse to give up her seat and move to the back of the bus, but at that time, the forces dictated that on that particular day, 1st December 1955, that one small act would mark one of those very giant leaps for mankind.

I’m pretty sure however that if someone had interviewed Rosa that morning, she most likely would have had no idea about the far reaching effects that day would have on the struggle for racial equality.  She may even have thought after the fact that it was a small gesture, and just part of the day to day toil of life.

I always say to my Breakthrough Coaching clients that everything we do and discuss is an invitation.  If it feels right and makes some sense, do it.  If it doesn’t and there’s an incongruence, don’t.

I say the same here as you consider making progress and moving upwards and onwards with your life.

It reminded me of the piece written by Marianne Williamson which famously posed the question, who are you not to shine?’  I have outlined it below because it feels very relevant here.

Marilyn Devonish with Marianne Williamson
Marilyn Devonish with Marianne Williamson

When I asked Marianne at one of our meetings about the thinking behind this piece and the impact it went on to have, her answer was very interesting indeed and it is another of those magical ripple effect moments.

Marilyn Devonish with Marianne Williamson
Marilyn Devonish with Marianne Williamson

Our Deepest Fear

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?  Actually, who are you not to be?  You are a child of God.  Your playing small does not serve the world.  There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you.  We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.  It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone.  And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.  As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others. Marianne Williamson

I am off to create more positive ripples in the world, and even to make some big waves.

Peace out.

Marilyn Devonish ♥

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