Hi Friends,
It feels strange writing in Substack, like I am sending letters out into the void, unsure if anyone will read them. It feels a bit like screaming, “Look what I’ve learned! Look what I know! I think you should know this too!” That has always been my intention: to share what I’ve discovered and to illuminate an exit path.
I see so much pain and suffering in the world. I’ve felt so much of it myself. My deepest desire, the reason I do what I do, is to alleviate that pain. Some of you know what I do. Some of you are my co-conspirators, the co-creators of transformative social change. But for those who don’t—or for those who may interpret it differently—I want to tell you what transformative social change means to me.
But first, I want to talk about how I got here.
My life started—and has always been—a dichotomy. I grew up rich: rich in love, rich in care. And I grew up poor: scarcity of resources, instability in housing, and lower-class struggles. I also grew up in a conservative household. My dad believed (and still does—bless his heart) in the American Dream and meritocracy. He instilled in me the mantra: “Work hard to play hard.” Yet, my mom was a hippie at heart—open-minded, open-hearted. She nurtured my curiosity and sensitivity the best she could.
This dichotomous upbringing made me both: a person with conservative values who worked her ass off and someone who saw endless possibilities. When life gave me lemons, I turned them into lemonade. But sometimes life handed me a few too many lemons, and they turned me sour. I lost my spark. I tried to conform, and I stumbled and fumbled horribly.
I had no choice—I couldn’t pull myself up by my bootstraps this time. So, I tried to leave this planet. Twice. But that spark, that knowing instilled in me by my mother, had other plans. It whispered that I needed to stay, that my being had value on this planet. So, I stayed. And in staying, I learned how to be. I learned how to be human.
This was no small feat. It took dedication to transform what the world had done to me and how it had disillusioned me into the person I am today. I am strong and sensitive. I am resilient and compassionate. I am so many dichotomies.
The thing about personal transformation is this: you decide who you are—not what happened to you, not how others treated you, not what the world denied you, and not the labels they try to slap on you. You decide. And when you decide, the possibilities are endless.
That is transformation. It takes this micro-level transformation for the world to transform. With the right conditions and the right environment, I believe every human has the capacity to do it. If I could do it, I know it can happen.
Here’s the thing: we often think other humans can help us simply because they have "credentials." We think a therapist, a coach, a doctor, a psychiatrist, a politician, a parent, or a boss can make our lives better. We think if the system would just see us, we’d get our needs met. But here’s the hard truth: that will never happen in a system that is fundamentally crumbling. Nothing is getting better—and I am not going down with that ship.
So, here I am, trying to create transformative social change. And I can’t do it alone. Some of you may hear my story and reject it. That’s okay—you haven’t seen the truth yet. You will. Then there are those of you who already know. You are ready and willing to be the change you want to see in the world.
This is transformative social change.
To me, transformative social change is about reimagining and co-creating systems that honor the interconnectedness of all beings. It is not about reforming broken systems but about envisioning and building entirely new ways of being and relating that prioritizes equity, compassion, and collective liberation.
Transformative social change goes beyond surface-level solutions or quick fixes. It requires us to examine the roots of oppression, inequity, and disconnection—both in society and within ourselves. It challenges us to move beyond the narratives we’ve inherited and to embrace the complexities of humanity with curiosity and humility.
It is a process grounded in belonging, consent, and collaboration. It is about fostering communities where everyone’s voice matters, where cognitive diversity is valued, and where power is not something to be hoarded but shared.
For me, this work is deeply personal. It’s about alleviating pain and suffering by creating spaces where people can explore their authentic selves, heal from trauma, and contribute to a world that reflects their highest values. It’s about systems that adapt to the needs of people, rather than forcing people to adapt to the systems.
At its heart, transformative social change is about vision—seeing not only what is but also what could be. It’s the ongoing act of choosing curiosity over criticism, connection over isolation, and courage over conformity.
Whether you are a co-creator of this work, a companion on this journey, or just someone passing by, I’m grateful for the connection. Thank you for being here, for reading, and for being open to what could be.
With love and hope,
Sher
