Privilege Statement and Decolonization Commitment

I'm a white, heterosexual, cis-gendered, college-educated woman.  I’m able-bodied, neuro-normative, and have never had significant health issues or challenges preventing me from earning a living. I'm a US citizen and have never had to fear for my safety due to where I live or the environment in my home. I have no debt and have the safety net of a loving and supportive family and friends I can fall back on if ever needed. 

I grew up solidly middle-class in an environment where my passions, talents, and dreams were wholeheartedly acknowledged, encouraged, and validated. Access to education and knowledge was never limited to me as a child or adult and I've never had to wonder where my next meal will come from. My physical appearance fits within modern Western beauty standards and because of this people tend to trust, believe, and open up to me easily. I have never had to fight to be visible or work too hard to get people's attention. I'm tall and get noticed wherever I go, and this has opened up many doors for me professionally and otherwise.

Because of these MANY privileges (and many I'm undoubtedly unaware of), I fully acknowledge that I will never, ever understand the BIPOC/Global Majority lived experience.

I've never had to fear for my safety based on the color of my skin. I've never experienced prejudice because of how I look, how I love, or how I pray.

I also understand that racism, capitalism, and colonization are systemic forms of oppression and are NOT something I can fix as one individual.

I’m doing the ongoing lifelong anti-racist inner work to decolonize as a white facilitator of medicine with indigenous origins whenever and wherever I can.

I'm learning that as a white woman, decolonization work isn't "Brave" — it's the act of taking responsibility and accountability to do the inner work to create equity and inclusivity in the healing and personal development space.

While, yes, it can be uncomfortable AF to unpack and untangle oneself from the effects of colonialism, as a white woman doing this work, my physical safety isn't under threat in doing so.

I name all of this because I'm learning inside The Decolonized Coach Course with Emily Anne Brant that we "can't see oppression if we're unwilling to acknowledge privilege.  I'm also learning from Sharron Jamison that "liberation is clumsy" and there's no way of going about this work perfectly.

Lastly, I'm becoming aware that so many white folks don't want to talk about privilege because they're afraid of being called performative or will be called out for virtue-signaling.  This was me not all that long ago.  For many years I was more afraid of being canceled than unintentionally perpetuating harm due to my silence.  No longer the case.

It is my intention going forward to use my many privileges for good in my small corner of the universe in right-sized, doable, and inevitably imperfect ways.

Hopefully in a manner that inspires others to do the same and doesn't tip the scales in the direction of white Saviorism, self-betrayal, and martyrdom.

Finally, please note that I am NOT an expert nor am I a qualified resource to lead you in this work. I encourage you to read books, hire coaches, join communities, and take courses from Global Majority Experts as you walk the lifelong path of decolonization. 

If you're curious about where to get started, l suggest beginning with The Round Table (a masterclass on Emily's website). While it's intended for coaches/healers...I believe everyone could benefit from the teachings offered here. If it calls to you I invite you to join me in an ongoing community devoted to decolonizing the coaching industry led by author, mentor, and speaker Emily Anne Brant. 

To a liberated future for all, 

Lydia