It has come to my attention that I am in the only social work program in this entire country that has a self-care learning requirement. I find that most serendipitous and fascinating because I have been learning about the importance and necessity of the care and tending of one's self for the past couple years.
For far too long I cared for far too many people without regard to what it was doing to me. Now, I am dealing with the repercussions of that state of being. It's not pretty. My mind and body are more than a bit broken. But, through learning about self-care, I am healing.
So, when I learned that my course of study was going to include an emphasis on self-care, I was kinda excited and felt re-affirmed regarding my path. I am at my best and designed to help others. However, helping others takes a toll on me because of the depth of feeling and energy I expend through working with them. My original plan was to help people in a professional capacity, so that I would have the boundaries necessary to properly help without damaging myself. Learning that the field I have chosen to work in has pivoted to focus on preventing burnout and compassion fatigue cheers me greatly.
When I told my general health provider that I was returning to school to become a mental health clinician, she smiled and expressed her awe and slight dismay at my choice, remarking with a tickled irony that, "Well that's not a stressful career at all."
She isn't wrong. Working in mental health is incredibly stressful. But the world needs it, and I am a part of this world, so I am committed to following through.
I just have to learn to practice my craft without harming myself.
And that's why I rejoice in all that I have gone through so far in this life, especially with my health issues. I now know how to identify when I need to say no, and I am devoted to learning the tools and implementing the practices necessary that will help me be better able to serve people while also not harming myself.
Which brings me to the main point of this little self-care missive. Everyone who is active on our blockchain is an innovative, creative hustler. That hustle needs to be tempered with care of one's self. Period. Going forward on here I am going to build on some of the self-care posts and practices that I have shared over the years in hopes that some of that information will rub off on all you amazingly magnificent creators here.
Because a well-tended carcass will yield all manner of awesomeness don't ya know!
