Hey Christine,
It was 16 years ago
but it feels so familiar
it could've been 16 days ago.
I landed my dream nonprofit job
at a domestic violence shelter.
FINALLY!!! I was going to make the difference
that I had always longed for.
But what started out as living my best life
quickly turned into a living nightmare.
Every day I came home an absolute mess,
unable to shake off the stories of abuse.
Fear and paranoia followed me on my drive home.
Agony and hopelessness gushed out
as I cried for hours to my boyfriend.
Despair and terror chased me in my dreams.
I asked for help at work.
I was given cookie cutter solutions:
Take a warm bath*
Walk the dog*
Self-care, self-care, self-care...
*Disclaimer*: I'm not a dog-walking or bath-taking hater
These just don't work for me personally.
If they work for you, please by all means continue!
Trouble was, NOTHING was working for me.
My body was soaking up clients feelings like a sponge
Their stories were etched deep within.
I carried them in my
tight neck,
hunched shoulders,
churning stomach,
clenched teeth,
darting eyes.
I was not only burning myself out
I was burning out my loved ones
As they tried to help me shoulder the burden
By the time I got home I had ZERO energy left to spare
Nothing for myself
Nothing for my partner
Just enough bandwidth to vent
watch a show
And try to suppress my body's stress signals
long enough to fall asleep.
I wanted desperately to make a difference but
my change-making job was eating me alive.
I blamed myself for not being cut out for it.
I blamed myself for not being better at self-care.
After two years I finally had to quit.
I could make a difference
while I destroyed my body, mind, and relationship
OR I could move on
and seek some balance elsewhere.
I wish I new then, what I have discovered now:
There IS a way to make a difference in the world
WITHOUT sacrificing your sanity & your loved ones.
There IS a way to sustain that challenging but critical work
WITHOUT it enveloping you whole.
There IS a way to take care of your self
that is grounded, accessible,
can be implemented throughout the day
and is 100% custom-fit to each individual.
That's why I'm helping driven non-profit professionals
curate their own customized self-care tools -
without long bubble baths*,
hours on the treadmill*,
taking time off,
tons of money,
or rehashing stories of trauma with a therapist or partner -
So that they can bounce back from stressful encounters,
reclaim their passion for making the world a better place,
sustain a meaningful purpose-filled career,
and come home with more than enough energy left over
to enjoy life & connect with loved ones.
Seem too good to be true?
How is this even possible?
I'll let you in on a little secret.
There is a part of you
that carries ALL the answers and
ALL the wisdom you will EVER need.
But this part of you is not living in the "logic center" of your brain
Where most of us usually go to seek solutions.
It "knows" & communicates in a different language
And that is where therapeutic art comes in.
With a little grounding, relaxation, and creative expression
You'll gain access to the deeper messages
that your body knows but your brain may not be receiving.
Next level, curated self-care
that actually works
is within reach
Through the magic of therapeutic art.
I'm passionate about helping other non-profit workers
mastering self-care from within
so they can thrive at work and at home.
If you'd like to get a small taste of what I have to offer.
Join me next Thursday, September 12th from 8pm-9:30pm PST.
for the healing art workshop Lineage of Love
(RESCHEDULED from 9/5)
where we'll explore how to "feel the love"
that is... how to build our inner resilience
by tapping into the feelings of support we get from loved ones
in order to feel strength & comfort during difficult times.
No art skills required - this is all about you and creating in a totally judgement free-zone.
Looking forward to seeing you there!
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