Bonus: Roe v. Wade & Thought Work

<p>Some of you know that I was a reproductive rights activist, advocate, litigator, and academic before I became a coach. So I am sadly not surprised by this decision as the writing has long been on the wall. But here's what I have to say as a coach:</p> <p><br /> The Supreme Court has overturned Roe v. Wade.</p> <p>How do we meet this kind of challenge, from a coaching/thought work perspective?</p> <p>Today is a day of mourning for anyone who cares about human autonomy and freedom. This ruling is a violation of the rights of anyone who can get pregnant, and in keeping with a long history of patriarchal control over women/childbearing bodies. As usual, the burden will be worst for people of color, disabled people, poor people, and anyone else living in a marginalized identity or a retrogressive state.</p> <p>Thought work is not about finding a “silver lining” in human rights violations. It is not about seeing oppression as “perfect” because it exists.</p> <p>It is about equipping ourselves to return to the fight.</p> <p>It is about increasing our own resilience, to show up for what we believe, even when we seem to be losing.</p> <p>It is about reclaiming our own ability to make meaning of our struggles and our lives, no matter what circumstances we live in.</p> <p>It is about power in the one place that no one else can control: The inside of our own minds.</p> <p>This work is about liberating ourselves from the inside out, so that we can continue to work to liberate the world.</p> <p>So allow those emotions today. Anger, sadness, fear. Cry, grieve, scream, howl.</p> <p>And when you’re ready, manage your mind. Choose what you want to believe – about this decision, about this world, about yourself, about your capacity to hold your experience, to find joy, to create change, to help others.</p> <p>Many terrible Supreme Court decisions have been overturned in time. It is worth continuing the fight.</p> <p>If we give up in our own minds, we are giving up on the world. That's how the patriarchy wins. Don’t give up.</p>