[audio] Self-Care Starts with Self-Compassion

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Transcript:

An attorney once told me that I was “soft” during a conversation. He said, “well, you’re a social worker and social workers are soft.” His statement wasn’t even relevant to the conversation. I asked him about Georgia law to advocate for a client.

My immediate thought was I go into every kind of neighborhood imaginable with only my wit, charm, and power of persuasion. Your clients come to you willingly and you call me soft? I then gave him a response about social work toughness. He recanted his statement and apologized.

Sometimes our “toughness” gets in the way of our taking time to take care of ourselves. Giving of ourselves to depletion helps no one. Mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual exhaustion affects every aspect of our lives.

When we are depleted, we suffer and those around us suffer as well.

Compassion means to sympathize or to feel the pain of another. In practice, it is a wish or impulse to alleviate the suffering of another. Self-compassion is treating ourselves the way we would treat others who are suffering, failing, or feeling inadequate.

  • First, we must recognize and acknowledge when we are struggling.
  • Second, we should encourage and reassure ourselves even during difficulties.
  • Finally, we can and should seek help so that we can re-examine our priorities.

You can do this!

May your life be safe, stable, and secure.

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