Providing and Applying Self-Care (1-day)

As chaplains, pastors, or church volunteers, if we are not careful, we can become victims of our own calling. It is your deep caring nature and heart for others that leads you to serve those in need. To continue to serve others who are in a crisis is a tremendous blessing but can also become a curse if we are not careful. As we listen to the horrific stories of those who have been traumatized, over time we can become traumatized. We can experience vicarious trauma, compassion fatigue, and burnout. Thus, it is imperative that we take care of ourselves physically, emotionally, and spiritually. For us to keep serving others without losing heart, we must maintain a healthy body, mind, and spirit. We need to build resistance and resilience to be able to stand in the face of chaos and hopelessness. We must always take care of ourselves so that we can continue to take care of others.