field notes on the good stuff
Kia ora community,
Oh darlings. What a few weeks its been. I did a podcast interview and I'm planning a Wellington training for June (online one coming in November).
I'm in the olive oil of life, Kenny Chesney's good stuff, not simply the things that feel good but the highs and lows. I've been laughing until I cry and (on different occasions) crying till at some point I finally laugh again.
Let me tell you a story of just one example:
Last month I did a Start Here and Keep Going training in Nelson. During a section on burnout prevention skills, I made an off hand comment, "It's important to remember that it can always get worse. I try to assume that and prepare accordingly. Remember, it can always get worse." A group of listeners in the front shifted uncomfortably, whispering to each other then staring back at me with wide, startled eyed.
A while later, a tentative hand raised from that group in the front. She said, "We're all new psychologists...or still finishing our training....uhh, it all sounds so hard. Why do you it?" She turned to look at the whole room of experienced professionals, at least a century of collective wisdom between us, and asked again, "Why do you all do it?"
There was a brief silence. Shifting ideas and thoughts and answers. I saw a montage of my sweetest and most heart breaking moments in the clinic room. Then we all answered. We went around the room and told stories of our golden moments, each of our own whys. We talked about the olive oil of this sacred mahi (work).
That's the good stuff.
What does this have to do with navigating burnout or coping with overwhelm?
Because I think the good stuff brings us home. I think the good stuff powers us to new peace.
Below are a bunch of joy screen shots I collect - I hope they bring you joy too.
Dan Savage, an American author, journalist, and LGBTQ community activist, makes a similar point in a different way:
The next four years are gonna suck. But they’ll suck worse if we let the news cycle — and the man who dominates it — drain the joy from our lives.
We need to pay attention and we need to stay in the fight. Because of course we do.
But we should spend as much time as we possibly can over the next four years with friends and lovers doing things that bring us joy.
Anyone who tells you that making time for joy — however you define it — is a distraction or a betrayal has no idea what they’re talking about.
During the darkest days of the AIDS Crisis, we buried our friends in the morning, we protested in the afternoon, and we danced at night. The dance kept us in the fight because it was the dance we were fighting for.
It didn’t look like we were going to win then and we did. It doesn’t feel like we’re going to win now but we could. Keep fighting, keep dancing.
- Dan Savage writing for the Portland Mercury
Announcements
- New podcast interview released! What at great kōrero (conversation) with Dr Debbie Sorenson of ACT For Burnout fame. Listen to our whole conversation on this Psychologists Off The Clock podcast episode.
- Tickets are now on sale for the Te Kiwi Maia Wellbeing Summits in both Christchurch and Auckland. The summits brings together an inspiring community of researchers, experts, and leaders who dedicate their lives to protecting and serving our country and communities.
- In the Wellington region? Please join me for a small group interactive learning day. "Start Here and Keep Going" on 19 June. Early bird pricing ($50 off) ends 10 April.
Please share your joys with me! I'd love to savour with you.
Till next time, I'm sending you love and grit, rest for the weary, and dancing and fighting and dancing again, over and over.
Aroha nui and Love, Kerry
