You, the helper, who went into your profession with the best of intentions and wanting to make a difference for those you help and for the world...how's it working for you? As we are realizing, in these times, we need to prioritize our wellbeing and take responsibility for our health and happiness, regardless of our job or profession.
This book is must read if you are a helper, and honestly, we are all helpers, as parents, caregivers, serving others in our jobs, and those whose profession is helping (medical personnel, EMT's, ministers, teachers, lawyers, vets, social workers, and the list goes on and on). We work hard putting others' needs first and have little time and energy to spend on meeting our own needs and to take care of ourselves. Most of us are the "the hurried and harried" and feel stuck, overwhelmed and exhausted with many life responsibilities leaving no time and energy to focus on the pursuit of our dreams.
Gillian Stevens was a teacher/ guidance counsellor, passionate about her career and a single mom who tried to achieve work-life balance. Her own life experience as a 'helper' struggling to find time for the necessary self-care prompted her to write this book. She interviewed helpers from a variety of positions and professions and found consistently that helpers: didn't make their health a priority, hadn't been forewarned about the potential for burnout, compassion fatigue and PTSD and lacked the resources to manage and meet the ever-increasing demands of their jobs. Even though they knew they needed to practice self-care, it didn't happen.
