Breath
by Erlene Grise-Owens, Ed.D., LCSW, MSW, MRE, lead co-editor of The A-to-Z Self-Care Handbook for Social Workers and Other Helping Professionals
A common metaphor depicts self-care as the emergency mask used in air travel. This metaphor conveys that we must put on our masks (self-care) before we can help others. However, the more I do this work, the more I realize the “mask metaphor” is limited. I suggest we challenge—or at least, expand—these mask metaphors.
Why Self-Care Metaphors Matter
Metaphor is a way to use language to understand, experience, or express one kind of thing in terms of another. Metaphors are NOT just some fancy academic jargon. Lakoff and Johnson (2003) articulate how metaphors permeate our daily life (e.g., time is money; argument is war; love is blind, and so forth). These linguists emphasize that metaphors are particularly influential in describing new or unfamiliar concepts; metaphors shape our understanding of emerging concepts. Thus, as helping professionals deepen our understanding of and commitment to self-care, we must be intentional about the metaphors we select.
Un-Masking Self-Care Metaphors
Certainly, the mask metaphor has applicability. Actually, colleagues and I use it in talking about self-care. For instance, I wrote about designing a haz-mat suit, which includes a mask, to survive in a toxic environment.
Trudi Frazel, who consults with CPS workers, wrote a thought-provoking blog post challenging the dominant airline passenger metaphor. She suggests a scuba diver metaphor instead, maintaining that scuba divers use oxygen tanks (with masks) to dive deeply. She develops this metaphor beautifully. Scuba divers must be trained, check and maintain their equipment, dive with a buddy, and have agency/control. She ends by asking: What fills your oxygen tank? What sustains your breath?
Mask as Temporary Tool—Breath as Essential Element
All these mask metaphors are useful. Certainly, “masks” have their purpose in sustaining self-care. But, I propose that a more apt metaphor to describe authentic, holistic self-care is BREATH!
These mask metaphors depict self-care as something to “put on” while in an urgent situation, toxic environment, or deep waters. Certainly, in our careers, we experience situations in which we need metaphorical airline masks, hazmat suits, and scuba gear. But, in these instances, the “mask” is only used for a limited time.
NASW (2009) defines self-care as “essential” for effective practice. In (re)conceptualizing self-care, we need language to depict self-care as more than just a temporary tool to get us through challenging circumstances. We need metaphors that shape our understanding of self-care as an essential, not an extra!
Masks are necessary tools in our repertoire of self-care strategies, but they aren’t the whole of self-care. Metaphorically, we use “masks” to get the necessary oxygen to survive a crash, toxic dump, or deep-sea dive. At some point, though, we must remove those masks. In daily life, self-care is the “oxygen” that keeps us alive, healthy, and functioning at our best capacity. Self-Care is BREATH!
At least, that’s where I am in thinking about self-care. What do you think of this metaphor of self-care as breath? Send me your questions, challenges, and insights. And, Keep Breathing!
Peace, Love, and Self-Care
Erlene
References
Lakoff, G, & Johnson, M. (2003). Metaphors we live by. Chicago, IL: The University of Chicago Press.
National Association of Social Workers (NASW). (2009). Professional self-care and social work—Policy statement. Washington, D.C.: Author.
Dr. Erlene Grise-Owens, Ed.D., LCSW, 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!