Take Care of You, So You Can Continue to Elevate Others
by Becky S. Corbett, MSW, ACSW
According to Merriam-Webster’s dictionary, the word elevate is a verb and means “to lift up or make higher; to improve morally, intellectually, or culturally; and to raise the spirits of.” This is what social work is all about - as social workers, we elevate individuals, families, and communities and provide them with hope and guidance each and every day.
I often take the time to reflect on the professionals who help others through their life circumstances. “Few people think about the toll this takes on the professional helper who cannot avoid being affected by the suffering, loss, grief, and helplessness experienced by those they are trying to serve,” Elizabeth Clark has written (Clark, 2017, p. 92). I wonder if all social workers ever truly STOP and take a deep breath. To consistently elevate others, you need to continuously take care of yourself.
Take a few moments and reflect on the following.
Self-Care Starts With ME
Ask yourself, “When was the last time I took care of me?” And I truly mean, took care of ME. Now I ask you, “Do you have a self-care plan, and do you follow it?”
Social workers tend to take care of the entire world without even giving two seconds to think about themselves. We are often the caregivers for our clients and even for our own family members. We are the first responders and the continued supporters who start the movements and the rallies. We spend countless hours advocating for underserved populations. And yet, we often do not prioritize the time to take care of ourselves. “Unfortunately, self-care does not just happen. It requires intentionality, and accountability” (Grise-Owens, Miller, & Eaves, 2016, p. 19).
Letting Go
Ask yourself, “Is there something that happened in my past that is weighing me down and feels like a ton of bricks sitting on top of my shoulder?” Look in the mirror, pause, and reflect. Have you truly let go of the negative emotions that are holding you back from letting go of the hurt and anger? Allow yourself to accept these emotions. They are actually hurting you, not the other person. Letting go provides you with the opportunity to feel at peace.
Express Gratitude
Ask yourself, “When was the last time I expressed my gratitude to a social work mentor, supervisor, or colleague for how they helped me develop into the social worker I am today?” Provide genuine appreciation to other professionals to lift their spirits and allow them to further understand how their mentorship was a part of your success and growth. It also helps you to realize how far you have come in your career.
Count Your Blessings
Ask yourself, “When was the last time I counted my blessings?” Take the time to list everything you are thankful for - your family, your health, your living arrangements, your friendships - everything. Now look at your list, and count your blessings again.
“Building bridges is about creating connections, establishing relationships, and obtaining resources to help yourself” (Corbett, 2019, p.1). When I think of the social work profession, building bridges is what we do. We help others to identify their strengths, establish a vision, build a bridge, and walk across to the other side.
This March, in honor of Social Work Month, take the time to elevate YOU. Can you imagine how many more bridges you can build if you gather the strength and courage to model for your clients taking care of YOU?
References
Clark, E.J. (2017). Choose hope (always choose hope). Murrells Inlet, SC: Covenant Books.
Corbett, B. S. (2019). The bridge to hope & healing®: 9 principles to guide you a moment of crisis. Rockville, MD: BSCorbett Consulting, LLC.
Grise-Owens, E., Miller, J., & Eaves, M. (2016). The a-to-z self-care handbook for social workers and other helping professionals. Harrisburg, PA: The New Social Worker Press.
Becky Schwartz Corbett, MSW, ACSW, is a national speaker, trainer, and executive coach in intentional growth, leadership development, and Producktivity®. She is fiercely dedicated to inspiring people to lead and helping communities, organizations, and individuals move ideas to action. Becky is the author of The Bridge to Hope & Healing.