‘Radical self-care workbook’ by (should be Professor) Helena Liu

I first came across Helena Liu’s work when I was searching for examples of everyday sexism in academia to put on my website. I read many articles and all of them were of value, but as always, there’s a few that will stick out. For me, hers was one. What was landing on me was her UNapologetic conveyance of UNcomfortable truth. Every word was a cascade of truth sitting on the last one. You finished reading the work with one, simple, strong word left in your mind: “Yes”. Yes, to all of it.

I reached out in awe of this brilliant woman whose power were her words and her words her power. I don’t know if she owns them or is owned by them, but they play like a song. In our exchanges, I took up the invitation to read her new workbook on ‘Radical Self Care’. (Insert big sigh). Sometimes a silent pause is the only respect you can offer because words will fall short no matter how kind they strive to be. 

This book came to me when my journey with words like self-care, self-love, self-worth was only really just starting. Making the decision to leave the claustrophobic structure of neoliberal academia was my radical self-love, but I didn’t know it at the time. Sitting with this book, prepared with such love, gave me the duality of comfort as it shattered glass all around me. My deprogramming had a soft cushion to fall on.

(p.s. This book will become available in Feb/March. Please contact Dr Liu on Disorient for more information).