113: Balancing Self-Care and Community Care with Nat Vikitsreth
Sep 30, 2024
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Nat Vikitsreth, a licensed clinical social worker and social justice organizer from Thailand, shares powerful insights on balancing self-care and community engagement. She emphasizes the importance of being your own ally and addresses the systemic roots of suffering like white supremacy and capitalism. Nat discusses the need for compassionate accountability and leads a compelling conversation on collective action versus individual burnout. Parents will find her practical advice on navigating personal joy while addressing community needs particularly enlightening.
Balancing self-care with community care is crucial, as personal well-being enhances one’s ability to engage in social justice effectively.
True accountability in social justice promotes understanding and emotional safety, allowing individuals to support both personal and community healing.
Deep dives
Understanding Unique Hair Needs
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Balancing Self-Care and Community Care
Individuals often grapple with the tension between personal well-being and the desire to advocate for social justice. The challenge lies in feeling overwhelmed by the need to address systemic oppression while also attending to personal concerns. Many parents wrestle with the idea of raising their children with a strong sense of justice amid their busy lives, leaving them questioning whether they can meaningfully contribute to broader issues. It is essential to recognize that finding personal balance does not diminish one's commitment to community care, as both can coexist and support each other.
Redefining Accountability
The concept of accountability can often be misinterpreted as punitive rather than supportive, leading to a culture of blame within social justice movements. True accountability should be about holding space for understanding and growth, not merely casting judgment. This more compassionate approach fosters emotional safety within communities, encouraging individuals to take collective action without fear of harsh reprimand. By emphasizing support rather than punishment, individuals can better address their own needs while actively participating in the healing process within their communities.
Navigating Diverse Causes and Limited Capacity
Many individuals face the challenge of wanting to advocate for multiple social justice issues but feel overwhelmed by their limited capacity and bandwidth. It is vital to understand that engagement doesn't always need to be grand gestures; even small contributions can foster significant change when approached with a clear intention. Recognizing one's spheres of influence allows individuals to identify how they can best contribute to causes that resonate with them personally. This perspective emphasizes that helping at a local level is just as impactful as participating in larger, visible movements, reinforcing the interconnectedness of various social issues.
This episode is about liberation, revolution, and social justice. We are tackling these topics from a practical perspective with my guest, Nat. Join us!
Nat Vikitsreth is a licensed clinical social worker who works with families who want to practice social justice in their daily lives but are torn between acting in their communities and at home. She helps them bridge the gap despite being tired, overwhelmed, and stretched too thin. Holding space for their beautiful intentions and walking with them on this journey are Nat’s passions.
Show Highlights:
Nat’s background as a transgender woman from Thailand who has become a clinician and a social justice organizer
Trying to honor our values about liberation at home and in the community
Being your own ally first with agility and awareness of your available bandwidth
Learning to hold space for accountability
The root causes of our suffering: white supremacy, colonialism, capitalism, and patriarchy
Leading with compassion in action instead of punishment
What it means to be truly humble
Nat’s advice for parents
Finding the sweet spot between discomfort and boundaries
Being realistic in your family about what causes you can support and take action on with your limited capacity
Nat’s words of advice about actions beyond the “sexy actions” to take
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