Fireworks
by Erlene Grise-Owens, Ed.D., LCSW, LMFT, MSW, MRE, lead co-editor of The A-to-Z Self-Care Handbook for Social Workers and Other Helping Professionals
In my last post, I shared that my recent firing was made public through the American Association of University Professors (AAUP’s) censure of the university. [See post here: http://www.socialworker.com/feature-articles/self-care/fired-up-to-spark-self-care/ ] I described three self-care “sparks” that helped me navigate that firing. In this post, I share a spark of exponential power, i.e., a re-firing framework of possibility.
“A” Possibility to Live Into…
As the MSW Director, I designed a “Living into Possibilities” assignment for the last Social Work Practice course students took before graduation. Students read The Art of Possibility. Throughout the course, they reflected and acted on possibility. Students automatically received an “A” on the assignment as “not an expectation to live up to, but a possibility to live into” (Zander & Zander, 2000, p. 27). At semester’s end, each student wrote a brief letter to their cohort, reflecting on how they lived into possibility and stating a possibility promise. Each year, I collated these letters into a Possibility Portfolio to give to graduates—as a celebratory symbol of the cohort’s exponential power of possibility. These portfolios were inspiring!
I encourage each of us to give ourselves an “A” in self-care—as not an expectation to live up to, but a possibility to live into! An important aspect of sustaining self-care is to intentionally see possibilities amidst devastating disappointments and overwhelming stress. Like so many, the crucible of stress threatened to burn me out in the profession I love.
Burn-Out Can Be “Re-Fired”
However, I determined to use this crucible to contribute to a professional mission: self-care and wellness. I committed to my own self-care. And, I led an initiative to integrate self-care into the MSW curriculum. I worked with colleagues to develop self-care trainings and organizational wellness initiatives. This focus generated The A-to-Z Self-Care Handbook for Social Workers and Other Helping Professionals. This book is the resource I wish I had had in the beginning of my career and certainly as I traversed the difficulties that culminated in my firing. Possibilities emerged from stressful circumstances—as well as seeing students and colleagues burn out.
When I was fired, some asked, “Are you going to say you retired?” I replied, “No. That would be a lie. Besides, I’m not retired. I’m re-fired.” In using my potential “burn-out” to “re-fire” possibilities, I give myself an “A.” 😊
None of us do self-care perfectly; yet, we often try to live up to an expectation of perfection. Instead, let’s commit to live into the possibilities of self-care! Instead of burn-out, let’s live into the possibility of being “re-fired.” As a re-fired professor, I affirm our “A” grade!
Let’s share stories of living into the possibilities of self-care. Linda Grobman and The New Social Worker invite you to contribute to Self-Care Summer—2017. Check it out: http://www.socialworker.com/extras/self-care-summer/self-care-summer-2017-be-a-part-of-it/
And, as always, I invite you to write a blog post about self-care successes, strategies, and struggles! Contact me or Linda with your ideas. Self-Care: Be Re-fired to live into the possibilities!
Peace, Love, and Self-Care,
Erlene
Reference
Zander, R. S., & Zander, B. (2000). The art of possibility. Boston, MA: Harvard Business School Press.
Dr. Erlene Grise-Owens, Ed.D., LCSW, LMFT, MSW, MRE is a Partner in The Wellness Group, ETC. This LLC provides evaluation, training, and consultation for organizational wellness and practitioner well-being. Dr. Grise-Owens is lead editor of The A-to-Z Self-Care Handbook for Social Workers and Other Helping Professionals. As a former faculty member and graduate program director, she and a small (but mighty!) group of colleagues implemented an initiative to promote self-care as part of the social work education curriculum. Previously, she served in clinical and administrative roles. She has experience with navigating toxicity and dysfunction, up-close and personal! Likewise, as an educator, she saw students enter the field and quickly burn out. As a dedicated social worker, she believes the well-being of practitioners is a matter of social justice and human rights. Thus, she is on a mission to promote self-care and wellness!