Glennon Doyle, best-selling author of Untamed and founder of the charitable organization Together Rising, shares her insights on what it takes to make a meaningful difference in the world.
What inspired you to create Together Rising?
The collective power of angry, broken-hearted women can be phenomenal. I knew that if my team could harness that power, it could change the world.
What’s been Together Rising’s biggest milestone so far?
We’ve had huge milestones this year, from becoming one of the leading organizations to help reunite families separated by the American administration at the border, to passing the milestone of raising $26 million for people in crisis — all with a most-frequent donation of just $25. But our most important accomplishment continues to be helping people avoid despair by consistently providing simple and meaningful ways to make a real difference.
What advice do you have for someone who wants to make a meaningful difference in society?
Figure out what breaks your heart and then run toward the people addressing that issue in the world. Heartbreak is the greatest clue of our lives — what breaks your heart points you toward your purpose and your people.
What can the leader of an organization do to help and inspire the people they work with?
When you start an organization like ours, the focus is on serving the world and the people who join in to help are others-minded too. They’re the sort who give and give until they’re spent. I’m convinced that one of the most important roles of the leader of service groups is ensuring that the people who work for the organization are taken care of financially and emotionally. The leader needs to make sure that the givers are getting what they need at all times, so they can care for themselves and their families while they’re caring for the world.
Why is it important to invest in our local and global communities?
We belong to each other — so disconnection from each other leads to despair. A life of service is a life of purpose, passion, and ultimately peace.
