Let’s be honest. Language is tricky. Knowing what to say and how to say it no matter who you’re talking to in this day and age is hard.
Especially as our culture shifts toward being more sensitive to race, cultural identity, sexuality, gender, and of course body size, shape, ability, and age. As it should.
This week on Savor Food & Body, my guests Euryale Gadin LMHC-A and Tara Cristobal-Rivers MS and I talk about why the language we use in speaking or writing about food, bodies, and culture matters.
Own your language mistakes with gratitude & move on
Euryale Gadin LMHC-A graduated with an MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Saybrook University and is in the process of setting up her private practice in Washington State as an LMHC-A. She plans to continue her work primarily with victims and survivors of crime, as well as, other trauma-focused therapy.
Additionally, Euryale is planning to become a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC) in the Fall of 2021 and is in her first semester of her Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision (CES).
Her research is on traumatology with a focus on Filipino and Filipino Americans, which she identifies as.
Euryale hopes to be a part of the wave that shifts curriculum within academic institutions as well as contributes to a growing knowledge base on mental health and cultural diversity.
Tara Cristobal-Rivera returns to the show to share her passion for the effects of nutrition on mental health. She encourages viewers to stay true to their authentic selves as they put written content out into the world. To paraphrase Tara’s take on the importance of language…
You might get called out and corrected. Take that as an opportunity to improve your messaging, but don’t change your passion for who you’re meant to serve.
Speak to your target audience with authenticity
Our discussion flows between how to create brave spaces for all of us to share our views, while also feeling safe to offer correction when we’ve been offended.
It’s not easy to get called out when you’ve unintentionally harmed someone through your written or spoken words.
We talk about how to reduce the sting by embracing yourself and the person offering correction with compassion as well as setting personal boundaries around who and what topics you’re willing to engage with – especially on social media.
Let’s face it. Language shifts and evolves and it can be hard to stay current. You’re going to say the wrong thing at times. We all are. But don’t let that stop you from engaging in conversations and forming new relationships with people who have different perspectives than yours.
Grab your journal to jot down your aha moments and your favorite beverage. Then click the link below to hear our conversation.
Learn more about Euryale’s work by visiting her on Instagram at Layered Lenses Therapist.
Get to know Tara’s work by visiting her website.
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Until next time, keep SAVORing Food & Body and living vibrantly!
