Sometimes it's advantageous for others to keep you down, to undermine you. There are many, many reasons why this may happen at both micro- and macro-levels. Often it's difficult to truly notice when this happens as this oppression can be played and masked in many, many ways. For example, I heard an education decision maker recently discuss academic leveling, and while her words on the surface level appeared to support a challenging and dynamic education, on another level the words supported an inequitable and oppressive situation. The topic of academic leveling is complex, and there is no one size-fits-all response or decision for it--there are times when it is the right choice and times when it is clearly not a positive solution. It is not a simple area of school life--educators who work in classrooms daily know that.
Personally, I met with a situation related to oppression and undermining recently. I made a decision that supported some of my fundamental needs, desires, and vision. It wasn't an easy decision, but it was a decision that elevated personal energy, creativity, and excitement for living--a positive decision for me and for loved ones. Rather than support my decision, some have worked against it. I'm not exactly sure why this has happened, but I imagine that my decision impacted their vision, personal choices, or thinking in some significant way. In time, I may understand this better, but for the meantime, I can't let this undermine my decision--a decision built on good reflection, research, and experience.
We must think long and hard about our values, and move forward with both strength and an open mind with regard to those values. We must be true to our values while at the same time willing to revisit and reflect on our values when challenged. Not too long ago, a family member challenged a long-held value I had. At first, I was hurt and angry, but with reflection and conversation, came to realize that I had to change that value a bit with regard to the pandemic times we're living in and with regard to changes in my broader family life and reality. I made the update and apologized for my lack of foresight with the situation.
So while it's important that our we don't let others undermine our good values, vision, and lifestyles, we also have to be open minded to reimagining and revising with good process who we are and what we believe in when our values are challenged. Onward.