Small Acts of Rebellion

FEATURING Hmong American Teacher, Speaker, and Writer ​ Kao Kalia Yang

Your Monthly Permission Slip: Embrace Little Acts of Rebellion

You have full permission to embrace quiet acts of rebellion.

These aren’t the loud, flashy protests. (Although those are often valuable.)

I'm talking about the small, brave decisions that — little by little — help you reclaim your voice, your space, and your power.

Join me!

What Does Rebellion Look Like in Your Life? This month, I sat down with Kao Kalia Yang, Hmong American teacher, speaker, and author of The Rock in My Throat, to discuss the power of quiet rebellions, the importance of home, and what it means to lose — and find — our voice. In our conversation, Kalia shares how a pivotal moment of her childhood transformed into an act of personal rebellion. “I decided that if the world didn’t need to hear my mother, then it didn’t need to hear me,” she explains of her decision to go selectively mute in elementary school. Her choice speaks volumes about the ways we protect ourselves, and how sometimes our quietest acts can be the most radical.

​ But while Kalia's rebellion felt empowering at first, it quickly took on a life of its own. This tension between control and surrender, silence and expression, is something we all navigate in our own ways. ​ ​Explore this topic on The Beat.​ ​ READ KALIA'S STORY

WISE WORDS

“We can control the volume of our listening, but we often focus on asking people to speak louder.”

Kao Kalia Yang Author, The Rock in My Throat

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Practice: Personal Truth Audit

This September is all about embracing small acts of defiance when you feel squeezed, suppressed, or silenced. If you don’t know where to begin your little rebellion, try this:

Step 1: Identify the ‘shoulds’ in your life

• What are the things you think you should be doing, saying, or believing? These could be external expectations or internal pressures in any area of your life. Write them down. For example, here's one of my very small struggles: I feel like I should join the PTA.

Step 2: Note whether your list feels authentic to you

• Now take a look at the list you’ve created. Ask yourself if each item resonates with your values and desires. Or are you simply doing it out of obligation, fear, or habit? Make note either way. For example, I noted that joining the PTA doesn't feel authentic to me.

Step 3: Give yourself permission to rebel

• For each area that doesn’t feel authentic to you, write down one small act of rebellion. It doesn’t have to be noticeable by anyone else (though it may be). For example: if you always feel pressured to attend every social event but crave more alone time, start by declining one invitation — and embrace the wave of relief! For example, I'm not joining the PTA this year. I'm giving myself permission to rebel.

Step 4: Reflect on the impact

• After taking your small act of defiance, reflect on how it felt. Did it bring a sense of freedom? Was it challenging to let go of the expectation? Any and all answers are valid here. For example, I feel great about not joining the PTA, but I'm a bit out of the loop on what's happening at my kids' school. I'm going to volunteer at a few more library events so I can become more connected in a way that feels good.

These adjustments take time, so be patient and curious with yourself along the way. And take it slow! This is about small steps, not perfectly completing the process. Enjoy the discoveries found in each little act of rebellion.

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