It is more important than ever that we live in ways that protect our planet, and at the same time send a clear message to businesses and politicians about what truly matters to us.
Let’s be honest, regardless of where you fall on the political spectrum, things feel unsettling right now. Maybe you are worried about the increasing polarization in our country. Maybe you are overwhelmed by the challenge of sorting truth from misinformation, alarmed by rising violence, or deeply concerned about the health of our planet and its people. Whatever your fears, one thing is certain, the time for sitting on the sidelines is long gone.
In my experience, the best antidote to fear is action. And while it might feel like so much is out of our control, there is one powerful truth we often forget. Change starts in our own hands.
Let me begin by acknowledging the most obvious and essential tool we have – our vote. Of course, we must show up at the polls and support candidates and policies that align with our values. But I understand the frustration people feel when results do not reflect hopes, or when the system itself seems broken. I totally get it! It is easy to feel powerless and let that be a barrier to taking action. But that is exactly when we need to lean in.
Here is the important mindset shift, our power does not end with our vote. Every dollar we spend is a vote, too. Every purchase we make either sustains the status quo or moves us toward a better future. Our collective spending fuels the economy and ultimately shapes the priorities of those in power. Money is put back into the economy by us – where we put it is entirely up to us! And it absolutely matters!
Imagine if millions of us chose to stop buying from companies that exploit workers, pollute the planet, or fund misinformation. Imagine if we redirected those same dollars to support small businesses, sustainable products, ethical companies, and local economies. That kind of action is not just symbolic, it is transformative.
Imagine if consumers everywhere stopped shopping at a major brand, any brand, not just for a day or a week, but for good. The impact would be of enormous proportions. A company’s power, every company’s power, comes directly from the choices we make with our wallets. Our spending determines the success and failure of every company! It has the ability to shape markets, drive trends, and ultimately decide which businesses thrive or fade away. This is not about pointing fingers or assigning blame; it is about realizing the influence we already hold and choosing to use it wisely.
We can do more than donate to a campaign or sign a petition. We can actively swing the entire economic system by choosing what and where we buy. That economic system shift can leverage political evolution. When we treat every purchase as a form of advocacy, we can move from passive frustration to intentional change-making.
In fact, recent events show this in the works. Tesla’s sales have dropped to their lowest in three years – dropping for five straight months in Europe – following widespread boycotts tied to Elon Musk’s political actions. “While Tesla CEO Elon Musk is no longer a special government employee under the Trump administration, it seems his involvement in politics is still having a major impact on European car shoppers.” (Jamali, 2025) Consumers worldwide are shifting away from the Tesla brand because they disagree with the political ideals and behavior of its CEO. Economic choices can ripple out. Time will tell the true effect on Elon and Tesla, but a movement is in the works. And it begins to demonstrate that with the money we each hold in our hands, we can influence brands, markets, and yes, even politics.
I understand the hesitation, the lingering feeling that I am just one person. What difference can I possibly make? But there is a quiet kind of power in living in alignment with your values. When your choices reflect what you genuinely believe, when they make you feel grounded, proud, and at peace with the person you are becoming – that is where real change begins.
For me, that journey started with adopting a plant-based diet, motivated by my concern for the environment. But as I learned more about the realities of factory farming, my choices began to shift even further. What began as a curiosity of clicking on vegan recipes for something new and fun gradually became something deeper. As my social media feed filled with posts about animal welfare, I found myself more and more moved by the ethical dimensions of my food choices. That is the power of influence, and it goes both ways.
I know that I cannot single-handedly end factory farming just by changing what is on my plate. But I also know I can no longer participate in something so deeply misaligned with my values. Choosing to step away from it makes me feel stronger, more intentional, and more committed to living the change I want to see. And that is the kind of personal power that ripples outward and is easily applied to every purchase decision we make.
So, let’s all use our personal influence wisely because it is more powerful than we think. We can buy less and buy better. We can support businesses that treat people, animals, and the planet with care. We can say no to convenience when it comes at too high a cost. Every decision we make is a vote for the world we want. This is how we reclaim our power. This is how we reshape our economy. This is how we lead with integrity and how we build a future that our sixteen-year-old selves would be proud to call home.
References:
Calero, J. (2025, June 25). Tesla’s European sales slump for fifth month. https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/teslas-european-sales-slump-fifth-month-ev-rivals-gain-momentum-2025-06-25/
Jamali, L. (2025, April 2). Tesla sales plunge after Elon Musk backlash. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4g4zp3z1p3o
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