I often hear the phrase “remember your why,” as a means to explore motivations or purpose. It’s used to remind people of the reasons associated with their actions. I’ve personally been reflecting on my macro and micro engagements and their intersectionality with motivations, passions, and values. Along the way I’ve come to realize it’s a lot more nuanced than the “why.”

When our actions are fueled only by what we’re against, we risk moving reactively and without clear direction. Opposition alone doesn’t build the necessary pathways forward. It only signals to us what to avoid, not what to create.

It can be tempting to swing to the exact opposite of what we resist. But absolutes also erase nuance. They overlook the intersectionality and complexity of lived experiences. Change isn’t found in opposites, it’s found in understanding.

When we’re grounded in what we’re for, our actions are guided by vision, not reaction. Identifying what we are for provides a framework to build toward something with clarity, not just away from something.

Truth is we all hold contradictions. We live, think, and feel the experiences of late-stage capitalism and white supremacy. It’s pervasive and shapes our psychological and emotional worlds. Integrity of our deconstructions and unlearning doesn’t mean purity. It means staying aligned with what we’re for to the best of our abilities, even amidst contradiction.

Let your “against” inform your awareness. But let your “for” guide your direction. It’s a way personal and collective transformation, can become possible.