I try to consciously avoid these five poisons:
1. Ignorance
2. Attachment
3. Pride
4. Aversion
5. Jealousy
This is my intention in all aspects of my life, and especially in my social justice and equity work.
I am constantly educating myself by witnessing the lived experiences and emotions and feelings of individuals and groups who far too often feel unseen and unheard.
I am mindful not to get attached to my opinions, my thoughts, my beliefs, my philosophies. Which is not the same as being committed to—and invested in—the outcomes that those thoughts and opinions may lead to.
I try my best to remove my ego from the equation. I'm not always successful of course, but bringing my attention to that dynamic allows me to mostly get out of my own way.
I don't avoid difficult conversations. I have confidence in my ability to endure, to persevere, to be resilient. I stay present. I listen. I hold space .
I celebrate others' accomplishments. Their success is a cause for joy, not sadness. Their achievements a cause for celebration, not envy.
These may sound like rather obvious assertions, and perhaps they are.
But how often do we partake in one more of these poisons and end up sabotaging our efforts that might have led to more socially just and equitable outcomes?
I suspect it's far too often.