"Tout ce qui est affronté ne peut pas être changé mais rien ne peut être changé tant que ce n'est pas affronté"

Facing challenges head-on is the first step toward change. Basically, you can't hope to make any sort of progress without confronting the issue at hand. It's like knowing you need to clean your messy room but never actually stepping inside to start picking things up. Change only begins when you acknowledge and engage with what needs to be changed.

Now, let's put this into some historical context. It was James Baldwin who said this, an influential African American writer and social critic. He was addressing the deep-seated issues of racism and social injustice in America. In the 1960s, the civil rights movement was at its peak, and Baldwin's words were a call to action for people to confront these societal problems head-on. It was a turbulent time, filled with both progress and resistance. Baldwin knew that ignoring these issues wouldn't make them go away; they had to be faced to be changed.

Imagine you're at work, and there's a project that's just not going well. Maybe the team's communication is off, deadlines are being missed, and the client is getting frustrated. You could avoid the problem, hoping it magically gets better. But we both know that won't happen. Instead, you decide to call a team meeting. You lay out the issues, ask for everyone's input, and together, you develop a plan to address them. By facing the problem directly, you've created an opportunity for change, even if the solution isn't immediate or perfect.

So, how can you apply this wisdom to your own life? Start by identifying something that’s been nagging at you. Maybe it's something big, like a strained relationship or a job that's making you miserable. Or it could be something smaller, like a habit you want to change. The key is to confront it. Write down what the issue is, how it makes you feel, and brainstorm some first steps you could take to tackle it. Don't worry if you don't have all the answers right away. The goal is to start the process of facing it.

Let’s dive into a little story to bring this home. Think about Sarah, who’s been avoiding her finances for months. Bills are piling up, and her anxiety is through the roof. Every time she tries to sit down and look at her bank account, she feels overwhelmed and shuts down. One day, after a particularly sleepless night, she decides she can't keep living like this. She takes a deep breath, makes a cup of coffee, and starts going through her mail. She sets up a budget on a simple spreadsheet and schedules time to talk to a financial advisor. It’s not easy, and it’s definitely not fun, but facing her finances head-on is the first step toward getting them under control.

In essence, the power of facing something directly, instead of shying away from it, can’t be underestimated. Whether it’s a societal issue like Baldwin was addressing or a personal struggle, the act of confronting it is the catalyst for change. So next time you find yourself ignoring a problem, remember—nothing will change until you face it. It’s the first step and often the hardest, but also the most crucial.