Sometimes it's easy to feel discouraged. (Photo credit: darrentunicliff, Creative Commons/Flickr)

In a 2010 TED talk, Kiva.org co-founder Jessica Jackley shared what motivated her to launch the microlending organization. Though she focused on how we need to reexamine our discussions and support of people who are poor, what resonated most with me was her journey from passive giver to active supporter. Instead of donating to organizations out of hope, excitement, and generosity, she donated to get away from a problem that seemed too big to address. In fact, she often wondered if social change was actually possible.

It wasn’t until she heard stories from people who were trying to move themselves out of poverty that she reconnected with her passion for change. Watch her talk to learn more about her journey.
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Though many of us do what we can to make a difference, sometimes we can get disconnected from the issues we’re trying to solve and the people we’re trying to help, especially if we’re not always doing direct service or the issues we’re addressing require long-term solutions. For Jessica, the key to staying connected was to reach out: “The best way to be inspired to try is to stop and to listen to someone else’s story.”

Questions for the community: how do you stay inspired, motivated, and connected to the work you do? What reminds you that social change IS possible?