The Philosophy of Service: A Holistic Approach to Harm Reduction and Personal Growth
In today's fast-paced and interconnected world, the concept of service has evolved beyond mere acts of kindness and volunteerism. Service in community has become a philosophy rooted in understanding, empowerment, and the dismantling of systemic biases. Drawing inspiration from the intersectionality of womaness theory and black feminist theory, my practiced philosophy of service is centered around harm reduction and personal growth. This article explores the three core tenets that guide this philosophy, emphasizing the importance of active listening, recognizing our own power, and uprooting structural biases.
1. Listen to Learn and Learn to Listen:
At the core of my philosophy lies the belief that good service starts with active listening. By engaging with others and truly understanding their lived experiences, we can create a space for genuine connection. Listening requires empathy, open-mindedness, and a willingness to learn, especially when we are exploring new contexts to old stories. To truly engage in service, it is essential to understand our own history and current context, as this knowledge fuels our ability to empathize and connect on a deeper level.
2. Recognize and Utilize Our Own Power:
Acknowledging and harnessing our own power is a crucial step towards effective service. By recognizing the skills and knowledge we possess, we empower ourselves to make positive changes. However, it is equally important to remain aware of the potential dangers that come with unchecked power. Ignorance of what derives our power and misuse of that can lead to harmful practices and perpetuate existing inequalities. Therefore, we must strive to utilize our power for good, while constantly examining how power is leveraged within our current spaces.
Maintaining healthy boundaries is a key aspect of recognizing and utilizing our power. Knowing when to step up and take action, as well as when to step back and allow others to lead, takes clarity and care in understanding our personal boundaries and what creates balance in our communities. By understanding our limitations, we can aid our service teams in collective action and ensure that our contributions are sustainable in the long run.
3. Uprooting Structural Bias:
Structural biases are deeply ingrained in our society, shaping the world we live in. To truly effect change, we must actively challenge and change our mindset. This involves questioning the status quo, identifying implicit biases, and actively working towards dismantling systemic inequalities. By consciously striving for personal growth and engaging a continuous learning mindset, we can contribute to a more equitable and inclusive society.
Embracing this sort of service philosophy, roots our community actions in the kind of work that illuminates interconnectedness, and drives our service beyond transaction into that of growing networks, and networths. By actively listening, recognizing our own power, and uprooting structural biases, we foster meaningful connections, empower ourselves and others, and contribute to a more just and equitable world. We can become catalysts for positive change starting in our own neighborhoods.
