Inoculate Yourself Against Despair (Mayo Pride and Kimberlé Crenshaw in Dublin)

I recorded this before the racist mobs inflicted terror in Belfast. It’s even more important to look after yourself. And this may feel impossible when fascists are running amok.The weekend I talk about in this new episode, less than two weeks ago (at time of writing this) was bookended by the fantabulous Panti Bliss’s If These Wigs Could Talk at Westport Pride and the parade then Dublin for the amazing Kimberlé Crenshaw, Backtalker. It went a long way towards healing the heartache I’d been feeling about racism in Ireland.I’m facilitating a workshop for therapists, coaches, supervisors and other helping professionals, Sustainable Practice When the World is on Fire for onlinevents.co.uk on 22nd August and hope you’ll join me to support yourself and your communities in protecting your nervous system in order to live wholeheartedly and lovingly.Something Panti Bliss said during her show has stuck with me: A quick nod to the “suspension of disbelief” around acting as if she was beautiful and the audience also acting as if she was beautiful.She WAS and IS.Beauty radiates from every pore when people let themselves shine (more on shining in ways that feel safe for your nervous system in next week’s Summer Solstice episode!)Love truly is stronger than hate and the more you celebrate your whole self and connect with communities that help you do so, the better.Can you imagine a world in which everyone was nurtured and supported in finding ways to express their uniqueness instead of being hurt for it?As I say in the episode: if every child, if every adult had the support to flourish, to be celebrated, to their unique gifts, to be nurtured and finessed and the world’s problems could be solved and there’d be so much more joy and collaboration.And I know I sound way too old to be so idealistic but this was how we were created, this is how we are wired: we are wired to thrive when we feel safe, welcome and loved and we know this now through modern neuroscience.By not loving others, by not welcoming others, by making others unsafe, we are making ourselves unsafe, we are making ourselves less loved, less welcome.We’re creating a hell on earth when there could be a heaven on earth.If humanning feels too much at the moment, with everything that’s going on, give yourself permission to hang out under the duvet and regroup. 2026 is a LOT.I still believe we can defy dystopia but it’s about continuingly checking in with yourself to identify whether you need self-care, Self care or community care.Sending love to everyone everywhere.le grá (with love),Ev3LINKSPanti Bliss https://www.instagram.com/pantiblissKimberlé Crenshaw https://www.instagram.com/kimberlecrenshawRelated episodesIf you enjoyed this, check out:Episode 80: Own your privilege, change the worldEpisode 83: Community as self care with Elizabeth PottsEpisode 84: Be kinder to your extra-sensitive nervous systemBook your free telephone consultation and access 100s of body-mind practices at https://solestosoul.ie/free-downloadsCHAPTERS0:00 An unforgettable weekend and finding joy in difficult times2:54 Mayo Pride and feeling inoculated against despair6:17 Dancing, celebration and the healing power of joy9:37 Speaking up, community and restoring faith in people13:30 Kimberlé Crenshaw, hope and responsibility15:44 The FEEL. LOVE. HEAL. framework in action20:10 Self-acceptance, love and personal transformation25:14 Pride, belonging and celebrating who you are26:29 Community, connection and turning pain into action29:07 Reflection: finding sources of joyHASHTAGS#belfast#pride#intersectionality#kimberlécrenshaw#pantibliss