The Power of One and How Small Acts Create Lasting Social Change
- Jun 11
- 4 min read
Updated: Jun 13
Written by Julie Farnsworth, Trauma-Informed Grief Coach
Julie Farnsworth has spent her life helping others to live better lives. After 30 years working as a social worker, she founded "One Free Soul Grief Journey, LLC" in honor of her sister, Erica, who lost her life to cancer at the age of 40.
Advancing positive social change in my community has always been a very important focus of mine. As a professional in the field of social work over the last 30 years, I have been fortunate to have experiences in various roles where I could see the impact that I had on someone’s life. I have also felt the complete opposite of this too. I have wondered what I, as one person, can actually do when there are so many things that need doing. It feels overwhelming sometimes to ask the question, “What can I accomplish in my little corner of the world that will truly make a difference?”
I remind myself that when my daughters were young, I took them with me to volunteer at local organizations like shelters and community events that helped serve others. It was important to me that they were always aware that even the smallest acts of kindness have the potential to make a difference to someone, and to never take that for granted.
I was a young mother and new in my career at the time, full of dreams for the future and always the optimistic problem solver. If I saw a need, I would just simply figure out a way to solve it. This belief has served me well over the years in my career, but it has also been a downfall.
I see now that it is not realistic to think that I, or anyone, can solve everyone else’s problems and fix all of the things. This is a recipe for disaster and burnout. One of the most significant things that I learned along the way is that people are not magically fixable just because you want them to get better and just because you give them all your time and energy.
People are not problems to solve. People can thrive and change and grow with support and help and belief in them, but I can’t be the one to do all the work.
Reflecting more on this, I think about my experiences from thirteen years ago working as a home visitor for Early Head Start. This role would lead me to make many connections, both professionally and personally.
The Early Head Start program is designed to provide support to families and their children living at or below the poverty level and requires a commitment of weekly home visits for the first three years of a child’s life. Ideally, support for a mother would start when she is pregnant, providing guidance and education for a healthy pregnancy. Ideally, support with a mother would start when they were pregnant in order to provide support and education for a healthy pregnancy.
The program also assists families with life goals such as getting a driver’s license, finishing school or obtaining a GED, starting college, finding gainful employment, and better housing conditions.
Over time, my relationships with the families that I worked with (many for three years) progressed naturally. Families who might not have had any other support system learned to trust and grow. They realized that I was not there to judge them or be someone to tell them what to do.
I was able to form some deep, trusting relationships with many parents. It is truly an amazing thing to be part of witnessing people transforming their lives. To see what a difference unconditional support and guidance can have on someone’s life.
These things happened not because I fixed them or did my magical problem-solving, but they happened because I helped provide something that most of these parents never had before. The belief in them that they could do these things.
Going back to my question about “what can I, as one person, do?” If I look at this question in a different way, I realize the importance of the answer. I realize that if everyone asks themselves that question, the importance of the answer magnifies.
The families that I was lucky enough to see grow and change now have the opportunity to change the next generation by knowing they can achieve the things that they set out to do for themselves and for their children.
Their children will then be able to have the benefit of this change and then their children will be too, and so it goes. I believe that is how change happens, it is a “ripple effect.” Sometimes you might not ever know it or see it, but when you do, it gives you the drive to do more.
I am mindful every day of how all my actions affect others and am hopeful that the example I gave to my children inspires them to continue to do whatever they can throughout their lives to make an impact.
Fast forward thirteen years and I am now a manager in the Early Head Start home-based program and have the honor of mentoring and guiding home visitors.
As I get older, it becomes even more important to continue in my endeavors to make a positive impact on the next generation. I look forward to continuing in my work as one person that can provide the belief and the power in another person to impact the next.
I realize this article is not about anything new or earth-shattering. It is not about neuroplasticity or the brain, but I think it is a valuable lesson that we all need to be reminded of from time to time. I, for one, need to be reminded over and over again to keep going even when I can’t always see the impact.
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Julie Farnsworth, Trauma-Informed Grief Coach
Julie Farnsworth is a Certified Trauma-Informed Grief Coach, Neuro-Change and Mind-Body Medicine Practitioner, Social Worker, and Mental Health Therapist. Since the age of 12, as a volunteer with the Red Cross, Julie has been called to help as many people as she can. She is the founder of "One Free Soul Grief Journey," which provides 1:1 healing journeys for anyone who needs help navigating the intricacies of grief and loss. Julie brings her years of experience walking alongside fellow grievers, as well as her own personal experience with grief and loss, to ignite her passion to help others to go from surviving to thriving.
