Using ACT to Advocate for Reproductive Justice

In today’s fast-paced, often unpredictable world, advocating for meaningful causes, like reproductive justice, can feel overwhelming. However, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) offers a transformative framework for those committed to this cause, providing tools to not only manage personal emotions but also engage more effectively in activism. ACT helps individuals align their actions with their values, promoting a more thoughtful and intentional approach to advocating for change. By embracing the principles of ACT, activists can find peace in the midst of adversity, focusing on what they can control and advocating for reproductive justice with clarity, resilience, and purpose.

Acceptance: Embracing What Is

Acceptance is a keystone of ACT, it’s in the name after all! In the face of systemic injustice, uncomfortable emotions such as frustration, anger, and sadness are natural. However, ACT teaches us that resisting these emotions only drains our energy. Instead, we can accept them as part of the process, acknowledging their presence without judgment. This acceptance allows us to channel our energy into actions that matter, rather than becoming overwhelmed by the emotional weight of the issues.

Acceptance does not mean resignation. It means choosing to experience difficult emotions fully, glean what information we can from them, then move forward. Imagine these emotions as noisy passengers on a bus, and you are the bus driver. You don’t have to engage with the passengers; you simply acknowledge their presence while steering the bus in the direction of your values—advocating for reproductive justice, no matter the obstacles.

Mindfulness: Tapping into the Present Moment

In the whirlwind of modern life, small moments in our vicinity often go unnoticed. It makes sense—our brains are wired to constantly scan for novelty and potential threats. This constant cycle can make it difficult to truly be present and focus on what matters most.

Activism often involves navigating a chaotic and fast-paced environment. The constant barrage of information, new developments, and setbacks can pull our focus in every direction. Mindfulness can be used to ground ourselves and focus our attention on what can serve us. It can look like taking a breath and re-centering ourselves before responding to the next call for action, or simply acknowledging the small victories. Practicing mindfulness helps prevent burnout by keeping us focused on the present rather than becoming consumed by future uncertainties. These small, fleeting moments can be easily missed if we’re not paying attention; make it a habit to pause and reflect. It’s an opportunity to notice what’s happening right now and engage with life more intentionally. 

Reflecting on Your Values: Reproductive Justice as a Lighthouse

Another key component of ACT is reflecting on what truly matters to you—your values. Today’s focus will be on the umbrella value of reproductive justice, which is not just about access to healthcare. Advocates for this cause are often driven by a deep commitment to equity, autonomy, and human dignity, independent values in and of themselves. What motivates you to fight for reproductive justice? 

By reflecting on these values, we can be specific with our advocacy actions. Perhaps you’d like to address gaps in healthcare autonomy to ensure that everyone has control over their reproductive decisions. Providing knowledge on reproductive health through social media campaigns or as an in-person volunteer with a community organization are powerful tasks that match this value. When our actions align with these values, we feel more empowered and connected to the broader movement, knowing that we are contributing to something larger than ourselves.

Committed Action: Taking Steps Toward Your Values

Once we’ve clarified our values, the next step is engaging in committed action, which is crucial for creating real, systemic change in reproductive justice. Identifying concrete actions that align with our values takes time: research and ask experienced advocates what can be done and evaluate how you can participate. Whether it’s organizing community events, educating others, or advocating for policy changes, every step forward is an important part of the larger movement.

Committed action in reproductive justice involves doing what we can, even when the path forward feels uncertain. It means showing up, even when progress is slow, and acknowledging that small actions—like supporting a local clinic or raising awareness about an issue—are vital to the bigger picture. Even the process of planning these actions can have a positive impact on our well-being, as it helps us focus on what we can control and provides a sense of forward momentum. Remind yourself of the bigger picture behind your actions and give yourself credit for completing a small piece of your goal. Each action, no matter how small, contributes to the collective effort for justice.

Defusion: Letting Go of What’s Not Serving You

In the fight for reproductive justice, we often encounter external messages or self-doubt that undermine our efforts. These negative thoughts can make us doubt ourselves or feel powerless. We have the ability to think critically about them and decide if they’re worth holding in our mind at all. Another key technique from ACT that can provide relief to our psyche is defusion, which allows us to detach from unwanted thoughts or limiting beliefs. When we recognize these experiences as separate from ourselves, it becomes easier to move forward and leave them behind.

For example, you can visualize a troubling thought or message  as something you can “pluck” out of your mind, place on a leaf, and watch it float away down a stream. We can observe them without letting them control our actions. Instead of saying, “I’m not doing enough,” we can say, “I’m having the thought that ‘I’m not doing enough’”. When we see thoughts as just thoughts, we stop automatically accepting them as truths. This mental shift helps us step back from self-doubt and stay focused on the work at hand, despite the challenges.

Self-as-Context: Embracing the Bigger Picture

The principle of self-as-context is an important reminder that we are not defined by our thoughts or emotions. Instead of identifying with fleeting feelings or challenging experiences, we can view ourselves from a broader, stable perspective. Imagine your sense of self as a vast, open sky, and your thoughts, feelings, and experiences as passing clouds. No matter what storm clouds may come your way, the sky remains. Similarly, you are not defined by your moments of frustration, anger, or setbacks in the movement; your identity as an advocate is secure. By viewing ourselves from a broader perspective, we can navigate the emotional turbulence of activism with greater resilience. When we face setbacks or discouragement, we remember that these experiences are temporary, but nothing new; progress has a certain gravity that continues to pull society into the future. This helps us maintain perspective, reminding us that while the fight for reproductive justice may be long,

our contributions matter.

Building Resilience in the Pursuit of Justice

By integrating the principles of ACT—acceptance, mindfulness, values, committed action, defusion, and self-as-context—reproductive justice advocates can develop the resilience needed to persist in the face of adversity. These tools help us stay grounded in our values, remain present in the moment, and take action that aligns with our vision for a more just world. As we continue to advocate for reproductive justice, let us remember that every small step we take is a part of a larger movement, and together, we can create lasting change.