What does it look like to heal from internalized imperialism?
What is imperialism?
What is internalized imperialism?
Why is it important to heal from internalized imperialism?
What does it look like to heal?
1. What is imperialism?
imperialism is a dominator paradigm.
patriarchy, capitalism, colorism, ableism, and other dominator systems fit under the umbrella of imperialism
more on that here
2. What is internalized imperialism?
Our outer world seeps into our inner world.
In other words, our environments directly influences our subconscious mind.
As without, so within.
Within the context of imperialism, we subconsciously believe that domination (ownership and control) will guarantee us safety.
And thus, our actions reflect our beliefs.
Whether or not we’re consciously aware of it.
3. Why is it important to heal from internalized imperialism?
The reality is that no one is safe within a dominator paradigm.
Separation is an illusion.
Life on earth is one interdependent organism.
“If you’re the only well-fed person in a room full of starving people, how safe do you feel?”
― Ed Whitfield, co-managing director of the Fund for Democratic Communities
Source: How to Create Safety and Security Without Accumulating Wealth
Individual safety at the expense of the collective isn’t real safety.
Real safety is collective.
True safety comes from intrinsic trust.
not the flimsy illusion of trust that relies on external structures
(marriage & kids)
Which is not something imperialism teaches us.
Your liberation is My liberation
and My liberation is Your liberation
4. Healing from internalized imperialism means rooting relationships in TRUST, not control…
…which requires learning the skills to:
communicate skillfully
hold nuance with compassion
collaborate through conflict
regulate your nervous system
center your life around community, rather than a single person (romantic/sexual partner)
raising kids collectively rather than vulnerable teams of 2
uncouple intimacy as a threat
experience (emotional/physical) intimacy w/o enmeshment or escalation
learn more herelearning to find safety outside of sex
practice spacious consent
understanding your needs and respecting others’ needs
embracing alignments and accepting (not forcing) misalignments
setting and holding boundaries
and so much more
Cultures of War vs Cultures of Care overview
