Take a moment and think about a child learning to walk. For me, it is always fun to watch because it brings me fully into the present as I watch this little being discover what they are capable of. With that said, as you know, the child does not instantly stand up and start walking. There is a process. A child moves through creeping, crawling, stepping, pulling up, and cruising. Some children skip one of these and move on to another movement in the process. No matter the progression, there is a mix of trying, falling, and finding success. Through the process, the child finally learns to walk.
Developmental Movement
It's a brief interlude because I can’t help myself as a dance/movement therapist, but I promise it is related! The work of Annie Brook comes to mind when I think about children learning to walk because she focuses on development movement based on the principles of Body-Mind Centering. While I will not go into great depth, I hope to introduce the concept briefly. Annie Brook (2001, p. 14) wrote, “Developmental movement is the language your infant uses as they integrate into their body.” Children learn through movement and moving through a developmental process, in this case, a physical one. So why bring up developmental movement in this context?
Developmental Process of Learning to Decolonize Your Work
Learning to decolonize your work can be looked at as a developmental process. One where we talk different steps, fall at times, creep at times, walk at times, etc. As we learn new skills, we move through micro processes where we crawl, step, fall, and get up again in the context of the larger cycle. In the dominant Western culture, the head is often given more attention than the body. However, to decolonize our work, we need to acknowledge that the work is an embodied practice. According to Ritenburg et al. (2014), embodiment looks at the double sense of the body as something that experiences living in the world and as a context for understanding the world around us. Thus, there is a parallel in thinking about developmental movement. If we are to decolonize our work, the process needs to include the body. So, I return to the analogy of the child learning to walk and how Brook talked about developmental movement as a language for integration. Our decolonization process must include the body. Ritenburg et al. (2014) reflected this sentiment by acknowledging that colonization is present in the body and influences how we think and act - alone and in our interactions with others.
Falling Flat on Your Face
Perfectionism! Yes, we have all heard that term. Perfectionism is this lofty ideal where we are not supposed to make mistakes. To be human, however, means that we will make mistakes. The challenge then becomes how the dominant Western culture encourages us to be perfect. But what does perfectionism perpetuate? It has the potential to perpetuate white supremacy, racism, and anti-Blackness (Raymundo, 2021). Let’s come back to our analogy of the child falling. It is part of the process, and generally, no one judges that process of falling and getting up. So why are we doing that in this case? We will fall on your faces in the journey to decolonize. It happens! That feeling of falling may hurt. Believe me, I know. Not only does my mind feel the sting, but I also feel it in my body via a visceral reaction. You can ask Dr. West and Dr. West-Olatunji about my journey, and they could attest to my falling flat. It is the decision to get back and keep going like that little child learning to walk.
Final Thoughts
Embrace the developmental process of learning to decolonize your work. Welcome falling flat on your face because you learn from those experiences. In a previous post, I wrote about the Growth Mindset and how mistakes lead to growth. Give yourself the grace to fall flat and forge on your decolonizing journey through an embodied process. Keep in mind that little children learn to walk; our minds and bodies are designed to learn. It is a developmental journey. Keep journeying!
What’s Next?
It sounds silly, but take a moment to find a video of a child learning to walk, or if you have an opportunity to watch a child in real life because you are a caregiver, etc., take the time. Enjoy watching it for a few moments. Watch how the child falls and gets up. Watch to see what you notice about how the child may be feeling. Also, take time to notice your thoughts and body reactions while watching the child learn. See what you can learn and apply it to your decolonization journey.
Practical Tips and Suggestions
Practice self-compassion when you make a mistake. It does not help if you beat yourself up. You can acknowledge your mistake without being mean to yourself.
Try journaling when you make a mistake so that you can take some time to reflect. The key piece is staying in reflection versus jumping into judgment. Additionally, consider including how your body reacted to the mistake. Learn to stay connected to your body.
Recognize your mistake and remember to stay engaged. It can be a pattern to disengage from the present moment and the error so you don’t have to feel and experience the mistake. Instead, lean into the experience to learn from it, rather than running away or fighting to protect your ego.
Find a mentor or support partner that can help give you different insights and perspectives.
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