Becoming more human human beings
“To make a revolution, people must not only struggle against existing institutions. They must make a philosophical/spiritual leap & become more human human beings. In order to change/transform the world, they must change/transform themselves.”
– Grace Lee Boggs, Living for Change: An Autobiography
In early 2019 a coaching client posed this question:
Am I intending to help, to fix, or to serve?
This question blew my mind!
By exploring what “to help” & “to fix” means for me, I can confidently name that I am here to be of service. When I use the mindset of service, I recognize that you are whole, creative, & resourceful (h/t* Andrea Leda).
No matter what I believe to be true–we are not broken & we do not need to be fixed–I still have moments when I feel broken. In these moments I pause & breathe. I call in curiosity & ask:
Who benefits from me feeling this way?
Who decided I should feel this way?
What system of oppression is being activated within me?
Asking these questions is part of our revolution & our co-creation of a liberated world. We must name the systems within us (the stories & beliefs that we’ve learned as truths), while at the same time, name the systems by which we have benefited.
We can simultaneously be oppressed AND be the oppressor.
As a White cisgender woman, I hold this paradox of being oppressed by the patriarchy while also holding the privilege of being white-bodied & cisgender (my gender identity matches the sex I was assigned at birth).
Naming the both/& of my social identities is inspired by the work of Kimberlé Crenshaw who coined the term intersectionality. In brief: Intersectionality is the overlapping of identities, originally identifying how the experience of both racism AND sexism for Black women was not honored within the legal system (learn more here).
In essence: We are not all having the same experience. (h/t Rachael Rice)
For me to actively partake in dismantling the imperialist white-supremacist capitalist patriarchy (h/t bell hooks), I have to acknowledge & name how these systems are activated within me. To be of service to the collective, I have to also be of service to myself. I have to do the deep work to become a more human human being. I have to get to know ALL of me.
* “h/t” stands for “hat tip,” a fun way to cite teachers, thought leaders, & wisdom keepers. h/t to Kelly Diels for modeling this practice.
This is part I. Read part II here.
