Identity Consciousness in Uncertain Times

In today's rapidly changing sociopolitical landscape, many of us in the social impact sector are experiencing high levels of uncertainty and pressure. As we navigate these challenging times, I've been reflecting on how our identities and lived experiences shape our responses to crisis and uncertainty.

Identity Consciousness

Identity is always part of how we experience the world.

Identity is made up of a range of dimensions such as race, class, gender, sexual orientation, education level, disability, languages spoken and many more. We all hold multiple overlapping identities. Our identities impact our thoughts, behaviors, and interactions with others and systems. Based on the ways that we identify, we've likely had different experiences throughout our lives, and consequently bring different perspectives and skills to the table.

Navigating the Current Moment

The social impact sector is facing enormous uncertainty and pressure. Many social impact workers and leaders are worried for their organizations, clients, and their own livelihoods.

The way we are experiencing this moment likely varies based on our identities and lived experiences:

• For those with identities that have been marginalized, the current challenges may feel sadly familiar, and perhaps an extension of systemic barriers you've navigated throughout your life.

• For those with more privileged identities, this may be one of the first times systems of oppression are directly affecting your sense of security and well-being.

• Those who have navigated racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, mental and physical health challenges, and/or other struggles may have already had to develop resilience skills and tools to move through fear, anxiety, and uncertainty.

• Those experiencing this level of uncertainty for the first time might face a steep learning curve, potentially leading to high levels of dysregulation and distress.

Questions for Reflection

I invite you to consider:

1. What in your lived experience has prepared you for the current moment?

2. What skills, tools, and awareness can you draw upon from your past experiences?

3. What feelings and situations are you noticing that you don't yet have the skills, tools, and awareness to navigate effectively?

Embracing Gentleness and Solidarity

However you're experiencing the current moment, I invite you to practice gentleness with yourself and others.

We exist within systems designed to separate us from one another, but we can actively choose solidarity instead. We can bring awareness to how identity and lived experiences shape our personal and professional lives without judging one another.

We can simultaneously hold grief for the unjust reality that some people have always lived with uncertainty and fear, while recognizing that this level of uncertainty is new for others.

Moving Forward Together

The path forward involves investing in building the skills, tools, and self-awareness that foster resilience not just for ourselves individually, but for our communities and movements collectively.

By acknowledging our different lived experiences, sharing our diverse coping strategies, and holding ourselves accountable to doing our own personal work, we can build stronger networks of support and more sustainable approaches to social change work.

What resilience practices are helping you navigate uncertainty in the social impact sector right now? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Citations

Talusan, Liza A. Identity-Conscious Educator. Solution Tree Press, 2022.