Self-advocacy is the action of representing oneself or one’s views or interests.

Oxford Languages dictionary

Are you able to self-advocate and speak up for your needs?

Do you even know what your needs are?

According to understood.com, people with differences need to understand their needs, know what support will benefit them, and be able to effectively communicate these needs to others in order to thrive.

However, knowing oneself requires self-awareness and many people think asking for support is a sign of weakness. I used to believe I was an unstoppable machine and if I needed rest or to ask for any kind of support, that I was the problem rather than the dysfunctional system within which I was trying to survive.

Now I know differently.

I am a foibled and fallible, albeit fabulous ;), human being with a finite lifespan. I am perfectly imperfect and simply trying to navigate this crazy made up world we live in and I am never not learning!

To speak up for oneself is actually an act of courage, which also benefits those around us.

When I self-advocate, I no longer struggle in shame and silence. As a result, I am better equipped with the psychological, physical, and social resources to meet my challenges.

I ensure the individuals I coach are aware of their courageous acts, when they acknowledge what is not working for them and where they need extra support in order to succeed.

But I know I am privileged. Self-advocacy is not easy and it does not work for everyone. Some individuals speak up and their needs are still not met. For some people it is not safe to speak up. Particularly in capitalist society, where humans are viewed as replaceable resources rather than sentient beings with rights and needs.

But it is not just in education and employment where we need to speak up. We need to self-advocate at home, too. This is another area where I historically failed to self-advocate with negative repercussions.

Oh well. We live and we learn, eh?! 😀 Nowadays I am clear about my needs. I still don’t find it easy to express myself, but I know self-advocacy is a courageous and necessary act.

What can you do to self-advocate today?

Onwards and strongwards in self-awareness and self-advocacy. Be good to yourself xXx

“When you plant lettuce, if it does not grow well, you don’t blame the lettuce. You look for reasons it is not doing well. It may need fertilizer, or more water, or less sun. You never blame the lettuce. Yet if we have problems with our friends or family, we blame the other person. But if we know how to take care of them, they will grow well, like the lettuce. Blaming has no positive effect at all, nor does trying to persuade using reason and argument. That is my experience. No blame, no reasoning, no argument, just understanding.
If you understand, and you show that you understand, you can love,
and the situation will change”
– Thich Nhat Hanh