Part 3 - Maintaining Compassion as Your Superpower

To ensure compassion remains your superpower, or perhaps you would like to claim it as your superpower rather than your kryptonite, consider the following:

1. Self-Compassion: Ironic, right? Prioritize self-care and set boundaries to avoid burnout.

Remember you can better serve others when you prioritize your own well-being. All too often, “givers” put this on the back burner. To even include this as a priority is cliché. Yet here we are. We need to take our own advice. Have compassion for yourself first.

2. Empathy with Boundaries: While it’s essential to empathize with others, be mindful of boundaries and recognize when to offer support without enabling or compromising your own needs. Sometimes, you really do have to say “no.”

There, I said it. N-O. One of the best ways to combat the inability to say “no” is with a lesson shared by another animal rescue professional (via Doobert). “Remember that you did not cause this situation and you did not put this animal in this situation. You cannot be responsible for saving every animal and you should not feel guilty for respecting your own need to take a break or focus on you.” Please remember this when you get a volatile email or other form of communication from someone on why you aren’t helping them in the way they expect it. Courteously say “no” to those dramatic individuals and organizations focused more on garnering noise or attention than on working collaboratively to save animals. (Thank you Doobert!)

3. Quiet the Noise: Step away from your devices as part of boundary setting. No, you really don’t need to take that call about puke at midnight. And the flurry of group texts and emails? They can easily become a time-sucking distraction. Try a good old-fashioned phone call if you need to chime in or need clarification. Or better yet, pop your head into an office for the answer (if you are still working in an office setting). If there are items that keep you scrolling, perhaps an actual procedure needs to be developed to handle all of those “emergencies”. Make these opportunities your time to build.

4. Take breaks, lunches, vacations, days off. Martyrdom is out. Hit the reset button. Breathe, go for a walk, hydrate. Dream.

Time for a walk and some dog snuggles. We got this.