A little motivation.

 

Thanks, despair.com!  I love your anti-motivational posters.  They make me smile.

Well, of course, I'm a couple days behind because I've been trying to figure out exactly how I want to go about this whole blogging deal.  Do I want to follow a specific pattern?  Or do I want to post willy nilly with no theme?  Decisions, decisions.  I think I'll do a little of both.  So if you're still reading, I think I'll do a little section on my own personal progress, a review of a website, and a review of an article.  That sounds like a lot in written form... we'll see!

Does it just take naming the problem to start working on it?

It's been one heck of a week.  It's Tuesday.  Somewhere between chart reviews, short attention spans, and wild two year olds I have somehow found a certain peace.  I've been shielding myself, somewhat, from the negativity that I hear coming from well-meaning coworkers and friends.  No, I don't want to hear more about the murder du jour on the news.  And no, life really isn't all that bad.  I'm catching my thoughts that are getting away from me.  Hopefully this is the beginning of awareness.  

I've been carrying this particular article around by John Makransky, PhD.  I wanted to start my blog with an academic journal or something that my audience might consider to be a legitimate empirical study, but I kept coming back to this... It seems that the available interventions for compassion fatigue and burnout are very much based around a more Eastern way of thinking, with many nods to Buddhism specifically.  So maybe Dr. Makransky's website is a good place to get started. 

 The Website

Though not specifically about  compassion fatigue and burnout, http://www.johnmakransky.org/ has very approachable articles that individuals from all traditions can incorporate into their daily lives (if you can get past the new-agey language that is a turnoff for some folks).   I recommend clicking on the social services link but only if you want to drool over conferences offered for social services workers with regards to: alleviating burnout and compassion fatigue, becoming more fully present, and enhancing our ability to affect change.  I'm so jealous!  

Interestingly, he links meditation, service, and social justice as if they go hand in hand.  I wonder what our textbooks would  have to say about that? Could meditation make us more present for our clients, therefore enhancing the possibility for change?  Hey, I'm willing to try anything once.

The Article

Not surprisingly, the good doctor (can I call him that?) included a great article about meditation for those in the helping profession!  "Compassion Beyond Fatigue: Contemplative Training for People Who Serve Others" is an excellent reminder of those "benefactors" in our lives that have given so much to us.  Especially when it feels like we can't give any more.  Dr. Makransky says:

"To help alleviate burnout and compassion fatigue, people need to find a place of inner refuge, a quality of awareness that is prior to the turmoil of ego reaction--a place of deep rest from their own reactivity and of profound replenishment for their energy and motivation." (Makransky, p. 3)

I like that.  I'd like to find that inner refuge when it feels like utter chaos going on around me.  Check out the article for a short meditation.  Also, Dr. Makransky's suggested reading list:

Awakening through Love by John Makransky, Medicine and Compassion by Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche, How Can I Help? by Ram Dass and Paul Gorman, Keeping the Peace: Mindfulness and Public Service by Thich Nhat Hanh, Social Intelligence by Daniel Goleman.

Maybe there is something to this whole Buddhism-inspired, meditation intervention?  After all, isn't the word Buddha supposed to mean "awake" (Das, 1997)?   Take a few minutes and read about those who have been compassionate towards you for a change.  I'm going to try it out.  Share with me what you think!!!

That reminds me, everyone should read the children's book Zen Shorts by Jon J. Muth.  Some more eastern advice for the younger crowd.