Breathing Change into the World, One Second at a Time.

A few days ago, I had the pleasure of sitting down with my friend Charles Gervais over coffee to catch up on what was new in our lives. As two people guided by values rooted in humanity and social justice—and sharing a similar worldview—our conversations inevitably lead us to reflect on complex societal issues.

At the heart of our discussion were change management and visionary thinking. According to Charles, change happens drop by drop… or rather, one second at a time. This perspective deeply resonated with me and stayed with me in the days that followed. I can even say it re-energized me and helped me make peace with the sense of powerlessness I sometimes feel—like so many others—when I look at what is happening in my community, my province, my country, and the world.

Do you feel that sense of powerlessness too? That discouragement, that deep fatigue, that disengagement—intentional or not—because keeping up with global conflicts, socio-economic issues, on top of all the personal and professional challenges we face daily, can sometimes feel like too much?

I invite us to take a moment together to step back and better understand this state of being—possibly a collective one—before returning to the idea of change.

When the World Feels Heavy

Let’s begin by acknowledging that over the past three years, we have experienced a series of events that profoundly disrupted our sense of safety, our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health, as well as our overall well-being—both individually and collectively. These events also tested, and in some cases weakened, the social cohesion of our communities (Institut national de santé publique du Québec, 2020).

We think of the COVID-19 pandemic, the murder of George Floyd (which was not an isolated case of police violence against racialized individuals—but that reflection will be for another time), wildfires across various regions of the world, hurricanes, armed conflicts such as those between Russia and Ukraine, and now Israel and Palestine, the rise of hate and misinformation, the infodemic, and mass shootings in certain communities—to name only a few.

At the same time, we are witnessing technological advances that are both remarkable and promising, yet also disruptive and unsettling (hello artificial intelligence, 5G networks, and spacecraft orbiting the Earth). We are seeing major shifts across all sectors of society, with impacts felt at multiple levels—and for a long time to come.

A Collective Trauma Still Present

I am not a sociologist, but it is not difficult to find extensive research by experts describing the COVID-19 pandemic as a form of collective trauma (American Psychological Association, 2023; Loma Linda University Health, 2021), or documenting post-traumatic symptoms observed during this period (Sun & Zhou, 2023).

It is also clear that individuals and communities—particularly those that are marginalized or racialized—did not experience these events in the same way. Despite the remarkable resilience we possess as human beings, it is possible that many of us are now simply exhausted. A great deal has happened in a very short period of time, and the pace of change and disruption does not seem to be slowing down.

Between the Desire for Change and Deep Fatigue

When it comes back to change, I would say I am like many people: both comforted by routine and drawn to change. I dream of transformation, yet I do not always find it easy to adjust my behaviours and attitudes to make that change a reality (for example, focusing on my studies instead of writing this piece).

Added to this is the experience of undergoing imposed change brought on by disruptive events, as well as the discouragement I’ve felt when running up against rigid systems or realizing that progress was moving at a snail’s pace. All of this has led to a certain level of exhaustion. I won’t hide the fact that I’ve felt overwhelmed—and at times, a little lost.

There is a meaningful difference between enduring change and actively participating in change we want to see—change driven by a shared vision, or rooted in the principle of by and for, where those most affected are at the heart of decision-making.

Changing systems that are deeply entrenched in outdated, inadequate, and inequitable models—often managed by people who do not renew their knowledge or perspectives—is long-term work. We are in a marathon, not a sprint. And yes, it can be discouraging.

That is why Charles’s words had such an impact on me. I had forgotten that it is possible to breathe change into the world in micro-moments—one second at a time—each of us in our own way. They reminded me that breathing change one second at a time is not only possible, but often the only sustainable way forward.

Breathing Change One Second at a Time

Since that conversation, I’ve been focusing more intentionally on the concrete actions I can take each day—actions that feel good and align with my values: helping someone, being honest and transparent, supporting causes I believe in through time or financial contributions, sharing my knowledge, passing along what I’ve learned.

It’s also important not to fall into the trap of believing that we can only create change if we are part of a large system or institutional machine.

When a Vision Is Enough

Several projects I’ve initiated or co-created with the people concerned were born from a clear vision—and very limited resources at the outset.

Think of the network for young entrepreneurs and professionals (MYPIE), the network for women entrepreneurs and professionals in Miramichi (Women of Miramichi Empowerment Network), launched in 2008–2009, or the Rotary Resurgo Club, which has since become a passport club serving the entire Atlantic region. These initiatives emerged from almost nothing—except for a unifying vision responding to a real community need.

Reading the Signals of Change

Change may unfold slowly, but it does unfold. If there is one constant in life, it is that change will happen. At times, it may feel like we are moving backward—but that often depends on perspective.

In the field of innovation, we speak of weak signals: early indicators of emerging change or trends that may eventually gain traction. This was true with the arrival of the internet, smartphones, and now artificial intelligence. Futurist Mikko Dufva notes that “it can take five to ten years before a weak signal becomes a real phenomenon” (Räty, 2020).

One Second at a Time

I will conclude by reminding us that some systemic changes take time—sometimes decades or even generations—while others occur suddenly and transform everything in an instant, such as public health crises, acts of mass violence, or climate-related disasters.

No matter the type of change you wish to see unfold, I encourage you to hold onto the words shared by my friend Charles: change happens one second at a time. What matters most is believing in the change you seek and taking action—any action.

When the scale of the challenge or the obstacles along the way feel overwhelming, return to the small gestures you’ve made. Break time down into seconds… and you’ll begin to see just how much you’ve already accomplished in breathing that change into the world.

Wishing you continued strength—and thank you for your work, your commitment, and your efforts.

Big changes often begin with small actions, repeated one second at a time.

References

American Psychological Association. (2023). Stress in America™ 2023: A nation grappling with psychological impacts of collective trauma. Résultats du sondage Stress in America™ 2023. Site web de l’American Psychological Association.

Institut national de santé publique du Québec. (2020). COVID-19: Community resilience and social cohesion to promote mental health and well-being. Government of Quebec. INSPQ website.

Räty, P. (2020). Weak signals bring messages from the future. Aalto University Magazine, Issue 27, October 2020.

Ringer, J. (2021). Understanding the long-term collective trauma from COVID-19. Loma Linda University Health – News.

Sun, R., & Zhou, X. (2023). Differences in posttraumatic stress disorder networks between young adults and adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 15(Suppl. 1), S29–S36.