There are many kinds of helpers in our world, the caregivers among us. They are the social workers who serve the vulnerable, the nurses and doctors who treat the ill, the teachers who instruct the young, the first responders who rescue the imperiled, the faith leaders who comfort the congregation, the volunteers who support the community. And whether or not it is our professional calling, each of us is likely to serve as a caregiver at some point in our lives, as a parent raising a child, for instance, or as a loved one caring for an aging relative. These and many other efforts to serve are among the most noble pursuits we can imagine, but they come with a danger worth recognizing.
In their devotion to the well-being of others, caregivers routinely put their own well-being last and can unintentionally burn themselves out physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Their self-neglect, paired alongside a deep desire to help others, has the potential to stir up feelings of anger and resentment, leading to a sense of guilt and shame. They often believe that if they were to grant themselves any rest or grace, they would be at risk of failing in their duty.
In The Soul of the Helper, Dr. Holly Oxhandler shows caregivers and fellow helpers a more self-compassionate way to cope with their overwhelming responsibilities and to attend to their own needs, particularly when it comes to their mental health and spiritual journey. She invites them to pause and realize that if they let their personal resources run dry, they cannot possibly care for others as fully as they wish. In fact, their efforts are likely to cause more harm than good.
With a background in spiritually-integrated mental health, Dr. Oxhandler teaches helpers a seven-step process to slow down and reconnect with the stillness within themselves. It is in this space of stillness that Oxhandler guides helpers to reconnect with the “sacred spark” within their soul. By allowing themselves to enter that stillness, caregivers will recognize that they, too, are worthy of care. And with that realization, they will see anew the sacred spark that dwells inside everyone else, especially within those they’re helping.
As a social worker, researcher, and person of faith, Dr. Oxhandler writes in a warm and welcoming style, shares many relatable stories, and widens her scope to include believers of all faiths and spiritual traditions. Her book is for caregivers everywhere who sense the sacred spark within them saying, in effect: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Links for Dr. Holly OxhandlerWeb Site: https://hollyoxhandler.com
Twitter: (@hollyoxhandler) · https://twitter.com/hollyoxhandler
Amazon Affiliate Book Link: https://amzn.to/3y8s4ce
Below are some trusted organizations that you can partner with to meet needs of refugees from Ukraine and around the world.
Fred Heumann's Article in Christianity Today: https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2022/february-web-only/ukrainian-christians-church-worship-songs-war-and-peace.html
Serve Ukraine Web Link: https://actintl.givingfuel.com/serveukraine
Nazarene Compassion FB: https://www.facebook.com/nazcompassion
Caritas does great work in Crisis: https://www.caritas.org/2022/02/carit...
Mercy Corps is fantastic: https://www.mercycorps.org/blog/human...
A local Ukrainian non profit that has been serving traumatized children for years: https://voices.org.ua/en/
Alliance for a New Immigration Consensus
Tell your Senators you support meaningful bipartisan immigration reform
Urge President Biden Not to Leave Behind Persecuted Afghans
Project Alpha
Afghan Advocacy Resources
Protecting Ukrainian Refugees
https://alinoorani.org/
Rick Lee James Official Web Site
https://www.RickLeeJames.com
Shine A Light In The Darkness - The Latest Single From Rick Lee James
Get The Single: https://rickleejames.hearnow.com/shine-a-light-in-the-darkness
Music Video:https://t.co/S7nCRl0xqa
Just for funSign Petition For Weird Al Yankovic Super Bowl Halftime Show
https://chng.it/FgrK2kFZ
Episode 544: Chris Wall - Wingfeather Saga Show Runner and Executive Producer
Episode 543: Brad Meltzer - Voices in my Head (The Rick Lee James Podcast)
Episode 542 - Nancy French
Episode 541 - Praying with Patrick - Matt Mikalatos and Aaron Burns
Episode 540 - Brian Zahnd - Voices In My Head (The Rick Lee James Podcast)
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Voices In My Head (The Rick Lee James Podcast) - Episode 535 -with Hank Spaulding - Iconoclastic Sex: Christian Sexual Ethics and Human Trafficking
Episode 534 - Born In A Barn? - James F. McGrath’s The A to Z of the New Testament: Things Experts Know That Everyone Else Should Too
Episode 533 - Karen Kingsbury
Voices In My Head (The Rick Lee James Podcast) - Episode 532 - Press Your Luck with JR. Forasteros
Episode 531 - Pamela Cooper-White and the Psychology of Christian Nationalism
Voices In My Head (The Rick Lee James Podcast) - Episode 530 - Justin Gambino
Episode 529 - Will Willimon on The Lord’s Supper and Advent
Voices In My Head (The Rick Lee James Podcast) - Episode 528 - Facing Grief with the Wheel of Emotions
Episode 527: Chopsticks
Episode 526: Hang On or Let Go?
Voices In My Head (The Rick Lee James Podcast) - Episode 525 - Last Day of CPE
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