Decolonizing Self-Care & Resiliency

In response to the ongoing and growing call for justice, change and healing regarding the violence and harm caused by racism, capitalism and other systems of oppression - I facilitated a session at the 2020 Oregon Mediation Association Conference called Self-Care and Resiliency for Mediators. 

The session was free to attend, and it was a gift for me to offer pro-bono with and for community. It centered healing and relationships though alternative dispute resolution approaches such as restorative justice. 

In the session, we focused on meaning making and workshopped how to respond to the challenges of decolonizing self-care practice to build resiliency as a form of resistance - by better understanding and reflecting on how white supremacist culture functions within individuals and organizations. 
 
We learned by practicing, reflecting and sharing - based on some brilliant tools (linked below) created by BIPOC and antiracist white allies. If you missed the training, here are some of the activities, resources and tools:

ACTIVITY > start here
 > Reflect on a self-care practice you have; How did you learn it?
 > What other care practices are you aware of (from family, community           or society)?
 
Self-care has been co-opted and packaged for profit, capitalizing on how white-supremacy culture promotes rugged individualism, meritocracy, and rational thinking rather than feeling. It cuts us off from our hearts, guts and intuition. It promotes conflict avoidance and violence. It dehumanizes. It others. It encourages repression of emotion, disconnects people from each other and people from the land. While there is a disproportionate impact and experience of BIPOC and folx with white culture, everyone is impacted - because we are all connected. We all have a part to play to co-create change and imagine a new future.

"Rest is a form of resistance because it disrupts and pushes back against capitalism and white supremacy." - The Nap Ministry 
 
When we can acknowledge this complex connection and shared humanity and apply a relational & kindship-based approach, we can re-frame self-care as an act of community care and uplift each other. While there is a time and place for affinity groups, that was not the focus of this session. When we listen in, make space for healing trauma and restoring relationships, re-member and reconnect – the way we tend to self-care can shift to an act of resilience and resistance. Resting, pausing and CRITICALLY reflecting are key steps.

ACTIVITY > Reflections on white supremacy culture characteristics
Which of these characteristics are at play in your life?
How do they get in the way of your self-care?

• Perfectionism, Sense of Urgency, Defensiveness
• Quantity over Quality, Worship of the Written Word
• Paternalism, Either/Or Thinking, Power Hoarding
• Fear of Open Conflict, Individualism, Objectivity
• Progress is Bigger, Better, Right to Comfort

From Showing up for Racial Justice and Dismantling Racism: A Workbook for Social Change Groups, by Kenneth Jones and Tema Okun, ChangeWork, 2001

TOOLS & RESOURCES > check them out!
> Self-Care BINGO from artist Alyse Ruriani Design
> Self-Care Compass and Card from the Community Medicine Cabinet
> The Nap Ministry a rest-based movement for equity and racial justice

Affirmations > Write your own!

• My boundaries still matter. 
• I focus on whatever and whoever makes me feel safe.
• Productivity is not my priority.
• I do not have to earn my rest. 
• This is temporary.

Adapted from Sherronda J. Brown @ Black Youth Project
 
ACTIVITY > On resilience: Ask an ancestor
Take a few minutes for personal reflection. First read the prompts, if you feel comfortable closing your eyes, do so. Take a few deep breaths to be present, which will also calm your nervous system - good practice!

1. Bring one of your ancestors into your awareness.
2. Ask them: What advice or guidance do you have to share with me today? Listen in and offer thanks!
3. Write down any messages they shared - or whatever comes to mind.

 
After this, we shared things we learned and things we are still curious about. A key takeaway for me was: next time we will have more music and a dance party! I hope to see you there.

If you have any questions or comments, contact me. Please share and promote the BIPOC folx and white allies whose work is featured here; direct links to their work are embedded throughout this article in red.

For more information about the Oregon Mediation Association and conference details, click HERE. Thanks for reading!