From Suffering to Sovereign: Escaping the Systems of Oppression That Keep Our Energy Stuck, Sick, Sad or Small

"Radical simply means ‘grasping things at the root.’" 

Angela Davis

While most of today's personal development frameworks focus on individual mindset and healing tools, it’s crucial to acknowledge the systemic forces that shape our daily lives and well-being. Over many generations, complex social systems have created conditions that keep us depleted, disconnected, distracted.

Ancient Chinese wisdom teaches that harmony (Dao), balance (Yin-Yang), and the free movement of energy (Qi) are essential for a thriving life, however when we take a step back and look, society has MANY examples of the natural flow of human energy being blocked. Oppressive systems create these blockages—keeping people stuck in cycles of scarcity, fear, and disempowerment, just like cluttered or misaligned spaces disrupt ones well-being in feng shui.

Even if our home is our sanctuary, it's hard to feel empowered in a system that is designed to exhaust and overwhelm us. To truly reclaim our energy, health, and happiness, we must dismantle the grip of these systems on our lives and create alternative pathways to joy and liberation.

"In a society where the good is defined in terms of profit rather than in terms of human need, there must always be some group of people who, through systematized oppression, can be made to feel surplus, to occupy the place of the dehumanized inferior."

Audre Lorde

The Curse of Capitalism

No matter how hard we work, how much therapy or self-healing we pursue, sometimes it feels like we can't get ahead. For so many of us, that suffering comes from simply existing in a capitalistic society.

In this system, productivity and output is glorified. Consumerism is normalized. Our self-worth becomes entangled with how much we achieve, how much we earn, how successful we seem. And when you really sit with the systemic inequality, the widening financial gaps, the pressure to keep pushing no matter what, the isolation/self-reliance, the constant “not enough-ness”, it begins to feel like a heavy, inescapable trauma- like we’re all swimming upstream with no life raft.

Money is a toxic colonizer because it infiltrates every aspect of human life, reshaping values, relationships, and even self-worth through the lens of profit and accumulation. Much like colonialism, money imposes artificial hierarchies, exploits resources—both human and natural—and disconnects people from their intrinsic, communal ways of living. It forces individuals into systems of extraction and competition, replacing reciprocity and abundance with scarcity and debt.

By dictating access to basic needs like food, shelter, and healthcare, money turns necessities into privileges, perpetuating cycles of oppression and inequality. Its influence is so pervasive that it not only controls economies but also colonizes minds, convincing people that their value is tied to financial success rather than their inherent humanity, creativity, and capacity for connection.

The Pipeline to Fascism

Capitalism, when left unchecked, can concentrate wealth and power in the hands of a few, creating vast inequality and social unrest. In times of crisis, elites and corporations may support authoritarian leaders who promise to restore order and protect their interests—often scapegoating marginalized groups and suppressing dissent.

This dynamic creates a pipeline to fascism, where economic instability is exploited to justify increasingly repressive, nationalist, and violent policies that serve capital rather than the common good.

Capitalism weakens us by ...

• Glorifying suffering and martyrdom

• Demanding obedience

• Normalizing inequality and surveillance

• Exploiting desperation

• Destroying community

• Hijacking dreams

• Distracting focus

• Demonizing solidarity and empathy

• Masking control and manipulation

Capitalism IS fascism, just with suits and ties instead of uniforms.

Remember, money is meant to flow which is why it’s called 'Currency'. Hoarding wealth is a moral failing based in fear, scarcity and other low-vibrations.

How Oppressive Systems Keep Us Stuck

History has shaped how we work, live, eat, parent and rest today. However so many things we consider “normal” are actually rooted in generations of systemic oppression - colonialism, racism, slavery, and misogyny.

When we go back and look at the origins of nearly every institution, belief, behavior and expectation in our society, we see it's actually tied to the discrimination, exploitation, and silencing of a racial or gender minority:

• The 40-hour workweek

• Hustle and grind culture

• For-profit healthcare

• Corporal punishment

• Food culture shaming

• Sleep training

• Tipping for service workers

• Workforce demographics for education and healthcare

• Family naming traditions

• Standardized testing

• Workplace professionalism

• Hospital births

• Maternal care

• Higher education tuition and entry exams

• Credit & debt system

• Voting

• Home & student loan systems

• Insurance (redlining

• Traffic patterns

• Urban & highway planning

  
  

Oppression becomes tradition when we accept societal norms without question or scrutiny. True progress requires dismantling these traditions of past and creating new ones rooted in freedom and truth.

Nearly everything we are accustomed to today was built on outdated sexist or racist systems, structures, and standards that were originally built to control, homogenize and assimilate us. Yet because they’ve been ingrained over time, we rarely question them. Instead of blindly accepting these systems and trying to fit within them, we should be asking why they exist in the first place.

The dominant culture (the cis white male) has consistently sought to erase marginalized communities' autonomy, culture, and dignity so that they can remain in power and control. If you are not a while male then the world was frankly not built with you in mind.

And of course, there is no incentive for anyone, or any system, to change, as long as it is benefiting those in power. As long as they profit there is no "problem' for them to solve.

No one is coming to save us. Corrupt politicians and corporations won’t suddenly decide to change and improve. But that doesn't mean we can't save ourselves. We will always have the upper hand as strength in numbers. We just have to consciously decide to do so, and act accordingly. Unit, mobilize, organize and demand real change.

Hustle & Grind Culture

Capitalism thrives on overwork, convincing us that our worth is tied to our productivity. This mindset fuels burnout, exhaustion, and chronic stress, leaving little time for joy, rest, or deep connection.

Patriarchy & Gender Oppression

Patriarchal structures dictate how we should look, behave, and express ourselves, often limiting opportunities and placing an emotional burden on those who do not conform. Women, non-binary, and gender-diverse individuals are expected to be caretakers while being denied full autonomy over their lives and bodies.

Capitalism sold us the idea of the American Dream. If you work hard enought then you can be successful. But this is a myth that is out of reach for many born without privilege. In reality, the real American Dream is a society where nobody starves or goes homeles, where everyone is treated with respect and dignity and recieving a living wage for their contribution to society.

White Supremacy & Systemic Racism

Structural racism affects access to healthcare, housing, education, and economic opportunities, forcing marginalized communities into cycles of survival mode. The emotional toll of navigating racism daily contributes to anxiety, depression, and intergenerational trauma.

Ableism & The Devaluation of Disabled Bodies

Society often marginalizes those with chronic illnesses and disabilities, prioritizing productivity over well-being. The pressure to "push through" can lead to worsening health conditions and social isolation.

Colonialism & Cultural Erasure

The lingering effects of colonialism strip people of ancestral wisdom, language, and land, severing deep-rooted connections that once sustained holistic well-being and community care.

"We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed."

Martin Luther King Jr.

Self-care vs Systems Care

When we think of self-care and mental health care we think of

• therapy

• meditation apps

• bubble baths

• sound baths

• matcha lattes

  
  

  But it's also

• paid sick days

• living wages

• affordable housing

• psychologically safe workplaces

Let's stop to centering the habits and routines, and instead shift to changing the systems and conditions that harm us. Except for a select few elites at the top, capitalism is set up for us to fail. Once you see it, you can’t unsee it.

"Mental health is not just a personal journey, it is also a political one. It's more than personal responsibility it is a collective one. ⁠Mental health doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It’s shaped by where we work, how we’re treated, what we have access to, and whether we feel safe, seen, and supported."

Karli Elizabeth

If we're constantly stressed from living in survival or recovery mode as parent, employee, or partner, then no amount of "nervous system regulation" or trending wellness hacks will help us.

The oppressive, patriarchal narratives want you to believe that wellness and resilience is your responsibility alone. It blames the victim and pitches all types of medicine as a band-aid. But true healing looks at the source, the root of the problem.

We don't need another self-care checklist— we need sustainable justice, equitable access, and collective, community care.

"Shouting 'self care' at peope who actually need community care is how we fail people."

Nakita Valerio

Strategies for Breaking Free & Protecting Our Well-Being

How can we decondition from the dark forces that oppress us? How can we thrive in this world designed to keep us in survival mode? How can we ensure those in power are not profiting from our pain and suffering?

These questions can feel overwhelming but it IS possible to reclaim your power with mindfulness and intention. There are individual AND collective actions we can take to inspire systemic change:

WE THE PEOPLE: A Declaration of Humanity

We are not commodities, resources or data points.

We are human beings, rooted in truth, built by love, moved by purpose.

We see the systems that reduce us, and name the harm they cause.

We reject the lie that status and authority defines one's worth.

We reclaim our voice, our dignity, our future.

Through unity not division.

Through healing, not silence.

Through action, not fear.

We will not be erased

We will not go back

We will move forward, together.

Dedicate Yourself to Lifelong Learning & Awareness

Equip yourself with knowledge about systemic issues to bring valuable insights into collective discussions and efforts. Education exposes the hidden structures of oppression, empowering individuals to challenge injustice and reclaim agency. By learning history, noticing harmful narratives, and fostering critical thinking, we disrupt cycles of inequality and create pathways to liberation.

Multiply your impact by sharing what you’ve learned with friends, family, and coworkers to inspire conversations and expand the collective understanding.

You are not the problem. The systems are.

Honor Your Energy & Set Boundaries

Rest is radical. Slowing down and stepping away from "performance", and into your true self is the answer

Refuse to buy into the idea that your worth is tied to productivity. Prioritize rest and embrace slower, more intentional living.  

Not everyone is willing to challenge oppressive norms. Protect your peace by setting boundaries with people, media, and workplaces that drain your energy or make you feel small.

Imagine a world where men who benefitted from patriarchy had to pay, like we do. What if women and marginalized people started charging a tax for our normally-unpaid mental and emotional labor, our energy?

• Engaging in debates with those who refuse to understand

• Explaining basic empathy

• Giving free advice

• Completing tasks and chores

Reminder: Burnout helps no one. Change happens best when we care for ourselves. Make a vow to only contribute within your capacity. This movement requires us to be rested and resilient, not exhausted.

Process Your Emotions

Seek therapy or community support to navigate feelings of eco-anxiety or grief, enabling you to show up with resilience in collective spaces.

Build and Engage in Community

Oppression thrives in isolation. Find or create spaces where you feel seen and supported. Mutual aid, collective organizing, and shared healing practices can provide strength and solidarity.

Use your time, skills, or finances to support movements, whether through volunteering, fundraising, or offering expertise.

"Oppression thrives off isolation. Connection is the only thing that can save you." 

Yolo Akili

Challenge Internalized Oppression

Recognize how societal conditioning has influenced your beliefs about yourself. Unlearn the narratives that tell you you're not enough, and replace them with affirmations of your inherent worth.

Is liberation one of your values? If so, here are some questions to ask yourself regularly. Eventually they will lead to your rewilding.

• what freedoms have you or your community not yet experienced- what areyour "impossible' dreams?

• what rules and laws call for defiance or disruption?

• what parts of yourself does society compel you to suppress, conceal or shame?

• what's the worst that could happen if i embrace, embody or pursue liberation?

• how would your story be written if you were fully in charge?

• who or what attempts to tell you that you are “less than?”

• who are you really?

Your work is to...

find the part of you that the colonizer can never touch

remember what it feels like to breathe deeply

nurture the voice, and the creativity that society has tried to silence and snuff

notice what belongs to you and what you inherited from a harmful culture

lean into the vulnerabilty of your own humanity

define yourself outside of the parameters of colonial patriarchy

Leila Madeline

Center Joy & Pleasure as Acts of Resistance

Oppressive systems want us depleted and disconnected. Finding moments of joy, creativity, and play is a radical act of self-preservation and defiance.

Shift your priorities from consumer culture toward personal and collective well-being: reduce working hours if possible, spend more time in nature, and strengthen bonds with friends and family. These actions model alternative values that challenge the consumer-driven status quo and create space for deeper participation in collective efforts.

Reclaim Ancestral & Holistic Healing Practices

Many of our ancestors had healing wisdom—herbal medicine, movement, storytelling, and communal care—that was erased or stigmatized. Reconnect with these traditions to strengthen your mind, body, and spirit.

"You cannot dismantle what you cannot see. You cannot challenge what you do not understand." 

Layla F. Saad

Advocate for Systemic Change

While personal healing is essential, true liberation requires collective action. Support policies and movements that dismantle oppressive structures and advocate for equity in all aspects of life.

Affirm:

• "I am an asset, not an accident. I am not a problem to solve or puzzle to fix. I am always home, belonging in every space I go, and bringing my inherent value with me.

• "I am exactly where I need to be. I release the illusion of urgency. Time expands for me and everything that matters gets done."

Embody Nature

Nature is the most liberated, sovereign of all, so use visualization techniques to ground when feeling stuck in your human-ness. Take it a step further if you can find an object to hold or a corresponding landscape to visit in person.

If you're feeling...

• Overwhelmed, chaotic - Embody the ocean tide, steady, taking one step at a time

• Insecure, Inadequate - Embody a mountain, standing tall, solid, anchored firmly

• Behind, Late - Embody the moon, knowing that every phase and form is perfect

• Unworthy, Undeserving - Embody a wildflower, nurtured with care

Let nature be a mirror. In all it's many forms, it is precious and perfect, a masterpiece in motion. It changes and moves at its own sacred pace, in its own sacred rhythms as part of a universal plan and cycle. It doesn't rush, seek permission or approval. It doesnt force, it flows. Let it be.

Envision a Better World

When so much of American history is rooted in exploitation and dehumanization, it's time to really think hard about what we are taking into our future, and why.

Another common approach is to only give energy to what you want to see more of in the world. This can border on toxic positivity or spiritual bypassing, but it is worth trying when feeling burnt out.

After all, true liberation happens when we collectively envision and create new ways of living— Instead of the toxic Patriarchy, visualize the utopian Matriarchy of your ideal future.

• What does it look and feel like to live in a moneyless society where everyone’s basic needs are me?

• What if we allowed people to spend their time exploring, learning, loving, creating, and simply existing?

• What would it feel like to live community rooted in justice, care, cooperation?

These are all radical departures from our current economic systems, but they're not an impossible dream. It requires a fundamental shift in values, resources, and the way we think about work, contribution, and abundance.

"The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any." 

Alice Walker

Systemic Change is Fractal

Fractals are all uniform spirals that appear all around us in nature - in seashells, in snowflakes, in fiddlehead ferns. They remind us that everything cycles upwards and that every small change expands to set a pattern for the whole.

In a fractal, the pattern is the same regardless of where you look in the spiral, but the levels are different.

Social change follows a fractal pattern—what we practice in our personal lives ripples outward to influence communities and systems.

A fractal approach to power shifts from domination ("power over") to collective empowerment ("power to"), creating justice-driven relationships and institutions. Every action, conversation, and decision we make carries ripple effects, reinforcing or reshaping the systems we live within. By aligning daily choices with our values, we cultivate the world we wish to see, embodying the truth that small, intentional shifts can generate profound systemic change.

"How we are at a small scale is how we are at a large scale. What we practice at the small scale sets the patterns for the whole system. I have to use my life to leverage a shift in the system by how I am, as much as the things I do."

Adrienne Marie Brown

Liberation Is a Lifelong Journey

Breaking free from these systems is not a one-time event—it’s an ongoing practice. Every time you choose rest over hustle, community over isolation, or joy over suffering, you are actively resisting the forces designed to keep you small, sick, sad or stuck.

Frustration, grief, and exhaustion areto be expected when we consider all of this heaviness. As long as we stay committed to awareness, resistance, and change we can get through this.  

"Freedom is not given to us by anyone; we have to cultivate it ourselves. It is a daily practice." 

Thich Nhat Hanh

By applying basic feng shui principles, we can reclaim personal and collective power, supporting liberation, healing, and agency for all. Dismantling toxic systems and releasing internalized oppression is about clearing physical and energetic clutter from our lives so that we can intentionally facilitate the movement of energy, promoting collective well-being and freedom, flow and abundance.

We have every right to imagine—and create—a world where all of us are considered, valued, and given space to exist as we are. The best part? We don’t need to wait for permission or for the system to change to create a more resilient, regenerative future. We can start NOW.

The power has always been with the people. It’s time to reclaim it. It's time to take back our energy, our health, and our happiness—not just for ourselves, but for future generations. Because a world built on collective healing, rather than individual suffering, is a world worth fighting for.

It's going to be okay not because the world will suddenly become just, but because history proves that even in the darkest times, people find ways to love, to create, to fight, and to endure. Empires have risen and crumbled, movements have been crushed and reborn, but the pulse of those who refuse to surrender to despair, to hatred, to silence— has never stopped. If you are here, breathing, bearing witness, holding onto even the smallest ember of hope, then you are part of that unbroken lineage. No single moment, no single leader, no single election is the sum of what we are or what we can be.

Frederick Joseph

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Erin is a certified feng shui consultant, energy healer, wellness coach and holistic growth strategist.

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