In the Liminal Space: Self-Compassion When Systems Fail

Last week I shared a blog piece about life mapping my educational journey—drawing the tenure track as a jail. Today, I'm sharing an article about reclaiming my voice and journey by learning to say my own name.

"The Myna Bird Knows Her Name" (original title: In the Liminal Space: Self-Compassion When Systems Fail) has been published in Lion's Roar Magazine's Bodhi Leaves section—exploring how mispronunciation and marginalization became invitations to reclaim voice, and how liminal spaces became training grounds for practice.

The work is connected: both emerge from 17 years of contemplative practice meeting 25 years in education. Both ask how we create environments where everyone can flourish. Both suggest that the margins aren't places of exile but sites of transformation.

For those navigating the borderlands—professionally, culturally, spiritually—this piece might resonate.

Read the full essay here in Bodhi Leaves: https://www.lionsroar.com/the-myna-bird-knows-her-name/

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Sarika S. Gupta, Ph.D., is the founder of Ecological Learning Partners LLC