by Yvette Erasmus | Nov 8, 2021 | Power Dynamics
Most of us were raised in what I like to call domination cultures. Domination cultures run on power and control, shame and blame, fear and righteousness. In these cultures, we’re conditioned to see the world through one primary (often unconscious) question: What is...
by Yvette Erasmus | Aug 31, 2021 | Healthy Relationships
Our human experience is multi-layered; things are rarely what they seem. In this video, one of my very favorite scenes from the movie Shrek, I particularly love the line that ogres are like onions (or cake, or parfait, as Donkey points out). Ogres (and humans) have...
by Yvette Erasmus | May 16, 2017 | Power Dynamics
While grading papers for a graduate class I’m teaching at St. Mary’s University recently, I realized my approaching to “grading” has fundamentally transformed since I began teaching in the mid-1990’s. It’s become much more gentle. I used to read with an...
by Yvette Erasmus | Apr 11, 2017 | Personal Growth
While facilitating some empathy skills training recently, I was reminded of a powerful lesson.(I learn so much from each of you!)Participants were paired off, practicing their empathy skills, when a pair called me over for some coaching and input.Although they were...
by Yvette Erasmus | Aug 16, 2016 | Healthy Relationships
Recently my 18-year old step-daughter shared a compelling piece of wisdom with me that I want to pass on to you!You know those situations where someone does something unexpected or surprising and you really don’t like it?Perhaps your feelings get hurt, or you think...