What politics taught me about how to really transform hearts and minds

I’ve always been a joy seeker. And I’ve always used joy to propel change. As a culture, though, I think we’ve forgotten how important joy is. I’ve worked in politics for nearly 25 years, and most people think I talk in unicorns, Skittles, and rainbows because they’re not used to speaking or hearing others speak from a place of joy. In a recent Essence Magazine feature, a reporter noted my unique perspective and consistent joyful spirit.

Everything I learned during my master’s program in social impact made me believe even more deeply that communicating with joy is the most effective way to drive change. I told my friends that we would start to see a shift in politics: I felt that leaders would also discover that inspiring people through joy attracted more support than stoking their fear and anger. But it would take a few years for them to believe me fully.

When Joy Claims Center Stage

What can I say, though? I called it. That was confirmed for me when I had the privilege of attending the 2024 Democratic National Convention. Before I lose you here….HOLD ON. In the lobbying world, I’ve chosen to be a bipartisan lobbyist. I have to be bipartisan to be effective; so let’s put partisan politics aside as I share this story.

I’ve always been excited to witness political history being made, especially when it involves a woman breaking barriers. Anytime there’s an opportunity to cheer on a woman, I want to be in that room. And as the picture below proves, we were so excited to be in that number.

And this room was electrifying. Being there was like getting an invitation to see our country in a different way. A joyful way. And we accepted. During Kamala Harris’ nomination acceptance speech, I sat by a woman from California. We were strangers, but we clasped hands, overwhelmed.
Every message from that convention stage lifted my heart:

Fight for the people who will fight for you.

Don’t give up, even when things are hard.

When a barrier falls for one of us, it falls and clears the way for all of us.

When we solve a problem in one city, we learn how to fix it for others.

We can lift the broken, even as we climb.

We can heal a planet in peril.

We can heal the wounds that divide us.

I don’t want to minimize the importance of politics and policy. But I think what we — me, my new friend from California, everyone watching in person or at home — responded to was something more simple: pure joy.
I took that joy home. I already knew the effect that joy can have on others, but now I understand just how much it can move me. I know the big difference between “yes” and “hell, yes!” Post-convention, I’m more passionate than ever about bringing joy to my work and to my life.

 

Now It’s Your Turn

Ready to spark change with joy yourself? Here’s a little trick I’ve learned as a lobbyist:

Think about a core message you want to communicate. For example, let’s take a cause I know well: creating smoke-free workplaces.

To get others on board with our cause, we want to help them understand the real impact of secondhand smoke. Did you know that it kills 41,000 adults in the U.S. each year? That’s an eye-opening fact. But sometimes, those eye-opening facts just leave people feeling hopeless and helpless.

So, let’s ask ourselves six questions: 

  1. How do we know this message is true? This is an easy one: We know it because it was reported by the CDC.
  2. How does this message feel? Like I said earlier, it’s a downer. 
  3. Is there a different way to say this message that’s still true? Good news: Yes! We can say, “Supporting smoke-free workplace laws could help save 41,000 lives per year.”
  4. Does the new message feel different? Yes again! The new message inspires people to be part of something positive. 
  5. Will the message still be factual and still feel the same in five to 10 years? Now we’re on a roll. While the exact numbers may change, it’s safe to say that secondhand smoke will still be a problem in a few years, and it will still feel just as good to save people from the health risks it creates.
  6. Do you believe enough in this message to take action and share it with others? And how!

Now, ask yourself those questions about your cause. You just took a huge first step toward an advocacy campaign!

I’ll let you in on another secret: You can use variations of these questions when you want to make change on a personal level. Want to see how?

Let’s say you want to declutter and clean up your place because the messiness is bringing you down.

  1. How do you know this is true? Because you never invite people over, and you feel depressed when you think of your overflowing laundry basket and fridge full of food past its expiration date.
  2. How does this message feel? Not good! Criticizing and shaming yourself just makes you want to keep procrastinating.
  3. Is there a different way to say this message that’s still true? How about this? “When my house is clean and organized, I feel more confident and productive.” (And maybe even joyful?)
  4. Does the new message feel different? So different! The new message makes you envision a joyful new reality to work toward.
  5. Will the message remain factual and feel the same over time? This is a pretty sure bet. You know yourself well enough to know that even if you hate cleaning, you still feel at your best when your house is a clean and happy place.
  6. Do you believe enough in this message to take action? I hope so! Maybe you’re even hunting down your Pink Stuff and Scrub Daddy sponges right now!

Joy changes hearts. It expands what’s possible for us as individuals and as a society. And it’s fun. How will you bring more joy to yourself, and to the world? To help you begin thinking this way, I’ll be sharing a weekly example on LinkedIn. Follow me, and every Friday I will post a story that allows us to “Realign with Joy.” In these posts, you’ll see examples that you can replicate in life.

I hope you’re ready to come with me on a joy ride. There are many exciting things ahead, and I can’t wait to share them all with you. 

P.S. Here is one picture from a summer adventure with my bestie, Tina. This particular trip left a joyful imprint on my heart. More of these, please! Also, I’m so excited about October; I have so many fun things to share with you!

 

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