In this episode I explore the intersection of personal healing work and anti-racism, beginning with "decentering".  I attempt to describe how decentering ourselves as white people can be a deeply healing practice to us and to the collective wound of racism.

00:50 Disclaimers for this episode: the intersection between personal healing work and anti-racism

1:38 A definition of decentering in interpersonal relationships

3:05 I teach my clients to decenter their wounded parts and center the most resourced parts of their psyche

3:33 What decentering whiteness means in anti-racist work.

4:58 The relationship between decentering psychologically and decentering whiteness

5:59 Here’s what's possible when we do the work

6:30 The willingness to step out of the spotlight will feel like an honor.

7:05 Validating defensiveness and following feelings to their origin point in our bodies and histories

7:16 Resmaa Menakem and My Grandmother’s Hands

7:58 My anti-racist activism has shown me the next level of work in my healing

8:42 We have the opportunity to help our fellow white activists to better understand our triggers around decentering

9:03 Sharing power is done by the psychologically centered and sound.

9:33 This week’s homework

Resources: The American Psychological Association (APA) definition of decentering. The NYT bestseller, My Grandmother’s Hands, by Resmaa Menakem. A short article by Menakem with an overview of the relationship between healing trauma and healing racism.  White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo, a very helpful read to launch and deepen your anti-racist understanding.

Podcast produced by Sal DeRosalia

Music composed and performed by Aimee Mia Kelley

Photo by Michael Schofield on Unsplash