Empathy Muscles
“Take care of yourself first or you will have nothing left to give others.” -Unknown
Take a moment to applaud yourself for taking time out of your week to exercise your empathy muscles! Some shifts can make us feel upset because people who reach out for emotional support may share information that can be challenging to comprehend. I believe that each of us are caring and empathic. If we were not, we probably would not be willing to spend time having unsettling conversations with strangers. If you value being a volunteer in the helping profession, you should take care of yourself.
If you’re finding it difficult to let go of a conversation, keep in mind that people are willing to listen and provide comfort. Of course, we should keep online chat conversations and phone calls at Agora confidential. The staff, executive committee members, and other volunteers are here for you. To contact a staff member and/or an executive committee member, look through the shift binder at your station until you stumble across a page that lists their contact information—remember that this contact information should never be given out to online chat visitors or callers. Would you prefer to speak to another Agora volunteer? Go on iCarol, type their name in, and click on their profile to obtain their contact information. Unfortunately, regardless of how kind-hearted we are, life is going to throw difficult events or situations at us. If you need a break, it’s okay to say you need a break. …show more content…
Let’s explore some self-care activities!
• Allow yourself to cry
• Alphabetize anything and everything – Use this list as inspiration
• Build a pillow
“Take care of yourself first or you will have nothing left to give others.” -Unknown
Take a moment to applaud yourself for taking time out of your week to exercise your empathy muscles! Some shifts can make us feel upset because people who reach out for emotional support may share information that can be challenging to comprehend. I believe that each of us are caring and empathic. If we were not, we probably would not be willing to spend time having unsettling conversations with strangers. If you value being a volunteer in the helping profession, you should take care of yourself.
If you’re finding it difficult to let go of a conversation, keep in mind that people are willing to listen and provide comfort. Of course, we should keep online chat conversations and phone calls at Agora confidential. The staff, executive committee members, and other volunteers are here for you. To contact a staff member and/or an executive committee member, look through the shift binder at your station until you stumble across a page that lists their contact information—remember that this contact information should never be given out to online chat visitors or callers. Would you prefer to speak to another Agora volunteer? Go on iCarol, type their name in, and click on their profile to obtain their contact information. Unfortunately, regardless of how kind-hearted we are, life is going to throw difficult events or situations at us. If you need a break, it’s okay to say you need a break. …show more content…
Let’s explore some self-care activities!
• Allow yourself to cry
• Alphabetize anything and everything – Use this list as inspiration
• Build a pillow