The Moment of Lift
Love is what lifts us up. When we come together, we rise. And in the world we’re building together, everyone rises. No one is exploited because they’re poor or excluded because they’re weak. There is no stigma and no shame and no mark of inferiority because you’re sick, or because you’re old, or because you’re not the “right” race, or because you’re the “wrong” religion, or because you’re a girl or a woman. There is no wrong race or religion or gender. We have shed our false boundaries. We can love without limits. We see ourselves in others. We see ourselves as others.
That is the Moment of Lift
Moment of Lift by Melinda Gates is an empowering story that reminds us all that at the core, people are good and to shape the world, we must all come together. I read this book pre-COVID and the BLM protests. Now, going through and reading some of my favorite quotes, the meaning behind each word resonates even more. While 2020 has been difficult for a lot of us, I’m optimistic that this year will be a catalyst for change for years to come. As I read the story, there are two ideas that stood out to keep in mind:
1) Inclusion and lifting others up
2) Being unapologetically ourselves, standing up for what we believe in, and continuing to learn
Melinda has several great quotes that it was hard to narrow down, so buckle up, this is going to be a long one.
Inclusion
Inclusion is something you hear about time and time again, but we need to keep reminding others and ourselves about the importance of welcoming everyone with open arms. This is a deeply rooted issue in institutions and society as a whole and is not something that can change overnight or can be done with one person — by acknowledging this, we are taking a step in the right direction to making a lasting change.
We need to stop looking at differences as weaknesses and a motive to create division. Instead, we need to celebrate and learn from them. We can only progress as a society if we uplift and support one another. By opening our hearts and minds, we will create better, more inclusive products/services and develop more opportunities to even the playing field.
Saving lives starts with bringing everyone in. Our societies will be healthiest when they have no outsiders. We should strive for that. We have to keep working to reduce poverty & disease. We have to help outsiders resist the power of people who want to keep them out. But we have to do our inner work as well: We have to wake up from the ways we exclude. We have to open our arms and our hearts to the people we’ve pushed to the margins. It’s not enough to help outsiders fight their way in —the real triumph will come when we no longer push anyone out.
We have to help everyone develop their talents and use their gifts for the good of the community. That’s what inclusion means - everyone is a contributor. And if they need help to become a contributor, then we should help them, because they are full members in a community that supports everyone.
BEING UNAPOLogetically YOURSELF
Melinda talks about how living up to society’s standards of being perfect can actually be detrimental because when we create an environment where only “perfection” is rewarded, it prevents people from taking risks and sharing diverse ideas. This leads to less innovation and people become unmotivated since they don’t feel accepted by their peers.
This is a trap that I fall into and need to continue working on. I’m often soft spoken because I’m afraid of being judged for my ideas. Most of the time, people only get a glimpse of my true personality. As I learn to push my boundaries and speak up more, I encourage you all to do the same. It’s important for us to share our ideas, be vulnerable, and stand up for ourselves and others when we find ourselves in a non-inclusive space.
I realized that maybe my best self is not my polished self. Maybe my best self is when I’m open enough to say more about my doubts or anxieties, admit my mistakes, confess when I’m feeling down. Then people can feel more comfortable with their own mess, and that’s an easier culture to live in
What I realized much later, paradoxically, is that by trying to fit in, I was strengthening the culture that made me feel like I didn’t fit in…Being yourself sounds like a saccharine prescription for how to make it in an aggressive culture. But it’s not as sweet as it sounds. It means not acting in a way that’s false just to fit in. It’s expressing your talents, values, and opinion in your style, defending your rights, and never sacrificing your self-respect. That is power.
If you made it this far, thank you for reading; I hope you’ve taken something away from this post and feel inspired to lift others around you.
xo Kerstin