How many times have you tuned out the safety instructions blaring over the loudspeaker on an airplane? I bet you could recite them verbatim. The flight attendant calls for everyone’s attention. You know the drill … let’s fast forward to this part: “In the unlikely event that the cabin pressure should drop, oxygen masks will drop from above your seat. Please put your mask on first before assisting others….” How often do you rush to save someone else in lieu of taking care of yourself? Probably as often as you tune out the messages over the loudspeaker.
Just to show you how common this is, let’s see how this plays out in an arena where “unlikely events” are everyday occurrences. Watch Kathy, a seasoned nursing leader who manages surgical centers and emergency departments in California, make her own surprising diagnosis.
Whether you’re a parent, a leader, a professional, a friend or a family member, others probably depend on you. And I bet you want to help. The question is, how well are you balancing that with what you need? It’s time to find out.
Your Awareness Prescription
- Where is self-care on your to-do list?
- What are the ways in which you fill your own tank?
- Do you ever help others and then find yourself feeling resentful?
- If so, were there boundaries that you never expressed?
- Moving forward, will you be running on empty or on self-full?
(Because it’s a choice – Even though sometimes it doesn’t seem that way).
Join the conversation here. I’d love to hear your answers.
To upgrading yourself to first class,