This blog post was originally published online with Psychology Today.
The academic landscape poses formidable challenges for people of color, who often experience systemic racism and microaggressions within the competitive and predominantly white environments characterizing higher education. Such challenges and inequity have been found to contribute to higher rates of depression and anxiety among BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color) students while posing a significant barrier to their ability to flourish and achieve long-sought-after professional goals. As a result, society fails to benefit fully from their contributions over the long term.
My Personal Journey: Overcoming Adversity
My own journey, shaped by my Mexican American heritage and a background of poverty, echoes these challenges. Exposed to high-risk behaviors and substance abuse at a young age, I navigated homelessness and juvenile detention at 14. Despite these adversities, I pursued education, eventually becoming a counselor, principal, and university professor. My path, however, was marred by struggles with childhood trauma, cultural disconnection, imposter syndrome, and a profound sense of isolation. In the absence of mentors and guidance, I wanted to give up many times.
My experience is all too common, but it doesn’t have to be that way. A greater understanding of the problem is leading to BIPOC-led efforts to decolonize and transform academic systems and cultures for the better—starting with mindful awareness, mentoring opportunities, and community building.
Transforming Academic Cultures: Mindfulness and Compassion
The turning point in my journey was the discovery of mindfulness and self-compassion. This shift in perspective began during my master’s program; amidst personal tragedy, I came to realize that when we quiet our minds and become present, we tap into a wellspring of knowledge within. This process of introspection illuminates self-limiting beliefs and habits, paving the way for personal transformation.
As I learned to manage my emotions and replace negative patterns with positive actions, I found the strength to overcome my challenges. The science behind these practices is well-documented; for instance, randomized trials highlight the significant impact of mindfulness-based stress reduction on mental health outcomes.
Over time, mindfulness and self-compassion have come to influence my approach to learning and teaching strongly. In the sanctuary of mindful practice, one comes to see more clearly the roots of entrenched habits like distraction, overthinking, and the relentless pursuit of external approval. More than just uncovering these patterns, this process requires the courage to release them. It promotes a transition from self-limiting beliefs to a heightened state of self-awareness, where clarity and a deeper understanding of oneself are embraced.
This significant internal evolution has revolutionized my interactions with students and colleagues, creating an educational atmosphere that values introspective practices and personal growth on par with academic success. From this space of mindful awareness, we cultivate a nuanced understanding of the interplay between our internal states and external experiences.
Creating Change: The Global Majority Leadership and Mentorship Program
While firmly established in my career, my journey to navigate both internalized racism and systemic barriers continues to this day. But something has changed: A nascent movement is underway to foster more inclusive academic environments from the inside out.
For example, in 2023, my professional and personal trajectory underwent a profound transformation through my involvement in the Mind & Life Institute’s Global Majority Leadership and Mentorship Program. Developed in 2021 by an interdisciplinary working group led by Dr. Kamilah Majied, its goal is to expand the community of global majority investigators in contemplative research. The program uses the term “Global Majority” to reflect the reality that people who are not racialized as white make up the majority—over 80 percent—of the world’s population. Annually, six global majority mentees are paired with six experienced mentors, who meet regularly over Zoom to share their experiences and goals.
Fostering Inclusivity: Mentoring and Community
More than a mere enrichment opportunity, this initiative has been a sanctuary for scholars of color engaged in contemplative research. It represents a communal space where we not only affirm our identities but also weave a strong sense of belonging. My engagement with this program was a significant milestone, connecting me with a mentor and peers whose experiences mirrored mine. In this dynamic community, we found the freedom to discard our masks, embrace vulnerability, and pursue innovation—elements often scarce in conventional academic spheres.
In this nurturing environment, we delve into profound dialogues on the role of compassion and mindfulness as tangible tools for both personal and communal transformation. Our discussion kindles a flame of change, where each shared story, breakthrough, and moment of connection contributes to our collective growth. This program has evolved into fertile ground, cultivating not only scholars but also changemakers, healers, and visionary leaders, all united in our drive to reshape ourselves and the wider world.
Conclusion: Joy, Resilience, and Collective Growth
The Global Majority Leadership and Mentorship Program underscores the critical role of joy—as championed by activist and author Bell Hooks—in sustaining both individual resilience and the well-being of the community. Sharing my journey, both the struggles and successes, with colleagues and students have nurtured a bond rooted in vulnerability. This amalgamation of joy and openness has been instrumental in my healing process and has significantly fortified the sense of community, fostering collective resilience.
The program addresses historical and ongoing academic challenges as a beacon of hope, illuminating a path toward a more inclusive, contemplative, and liberatory academic landscape. As we progress, the psychological empowerment and transformative healing it fosters cannot be overlooked. This journey not only demands but also inspires necessary structural changes. Together, may we strive to co-create a world that genuinely reflects the richness and diversity of the human spirit, nurturing the psychological well-being and holistic growth of every individual.
Felipe Mercado, Ed.D, MSW, is a Mind & Life Global Majority Leadership and Mentorship mentee and a professor at California State University, Fresno, in the Social Work Department. He is the founder of Wise Souls LLC and the author of “A Journey to Compassion: Standing Firm in the Face of Pain,” a book on poverty and compassion.
References:
- Hooks, B. (1999). Happy to be here: Looking for a place for joy and wonder in contemporary blackness (p. 25). Routledge.
- Majied, K. (2023, January 10). New Global Majority Leadership and Mentorship Program heralds an era of anti-racist, inclusive contemplative scholarship and science. Mind & Life Institute. Retrieved from https://www.mindandlife.org/media/new-global-majority-leadership-and-mentorship-program-heralds-an-era-of-anti-racist-inclusive-contemplative-scholarship-and-science/
- Sablan, J., & Mahoney, B. (2022, August 07). Cultivating a Sense of Belonging for Graduate Students. Inside Higher Ed. Retrieved from https://www.insidehighered.com/advice/2022/08/08/equity-key-sense-belonging-among-grad-students-opinion
- Shapiro, S. L., Astin, J. A., Bishop, S. R., & Cordova, M. (2005). Mindfulness-based stress reduction for health care professionals: Results from a randomized trial. International Journal of Stress Management, 13(2), 164-176.
