Today’s post comes from Cher Hale, a student and activist in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Do you feel like you aren’t doing enough to make a difference in this world?

Maybe you’re one of those people that are aware of injustice, but you just can’t seem to bring yourself to do anything about it.

Then, you start to feel guilty.

Man, you think to yourself as you eat a hamburger, those cows must be sad being stuffed with corn they don’t even like all day.

You might say as you go shopping, Wow. I’m buying these pants made in Malaysia by sweatshop workers in unlivable conditions.

But, you volunteer occasionally.

You educate yourself by skimming through articles.

You tell your friends about this crazy world we all live in even if they look at you with apathetic faces.

You care.

You’re just not sure what to do next.

Thinking about these social injustices that have been present on our planet for years before you were born is heavy.

You cannot feel guilty for not immediately changing your lifestyle because making a difference in this world through activism is a personal journey.

You’re not going to be instantly infused with all of the resources, inspiration, and know-how to create social change from the beginning.

It’s easy to learn about a social cause like bad sweatshop conditions, get really upset, and vow to start a foundation in your quest to rid the world of its vermin-like nature.

Yes, dreaming big is beautiful, and there should always be dreams like these in the back of your mind, nudging you forward on your journey.

But, you’ll start to see real change if you begin with your neighborhood.

Then, you can expand to your community.

Show your friends, family, coworkers, and acquaintances what an activist looks like.

Even if they don’t tell you directly, you are making a positive impact on them.

You are being a leader for change.

Once you make the decision to create a better community for yourself and those around you, you will begin to notice a shift in your thinking.

You say, How could I possibly shop at this store connected to a large corporation that exploits workers with no other choices of employment?

You declare to yourself and to your best friend, I’m no longer going to eat beef because of the horrible conditions in factory farms. I’m interested in saving the next generation from being served antibiotics and hormones on their clean, white plates in restaurant chains.

You are evolving into an activist in your every day life.

Start local, find the issue you’re most passionate about, educate yourself in full detail, connect with like-minded individuals and expand.

Review your accomplishments, and repeat until you have the attention of the country.

Cher is a student and local activist in Las Vegas, Nevada that believes in connecting to make a positive impact on the world. She writes for her blog Cher Love Now