Wellness Practitioners Need Wellness Too
While you’ve dedicated your life to guiding others toward physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being, it’s easy to let your own self-care fall out of focus. There is no shortage of counselors who need counsel, tense massage therapists, and anxiety-ridden yogis, but this neglect of your own health is harmful for you—and to the healing care you offer your clients.
Risks of Neglecting Your Own Wellness
As a healer, you pour out comfort, compassion, support, and guidance every day to clients in need of your healing touch or skills. You know better than anyone how taxing it can be to give, and give, and give. This constant emotional labor can take a toll on your well-being, leading to compassion fatigue—a state of emotional exhaustion and reduced ability to empathize.
Compassion fatigue is characterized by emotional and physical exhaustion resulting from prolonged exposure to the suffering and distress of others, especially in a caregiving or helping role. If you regularly support people facing pain or trauma, compassion fatigue can emotionally exhaust you, damage your ability to empathize with those you serve, make you feel cynical or disillusioned, and even impact your body’s physical health.
To be an effective healer, you simply must prioritize your own well-being. Self-care is not a luxury; it's a necessity. You cannot pour from an empty cup.
3 Real Tips for Getting the Care You Need
It’s easy to tell others—your clients, family, and friends—to take care of themselves, but getting it done yourself is a tall order. No shame here. We know you’re busy. We just want you to feel like the best version of yourself. Self-care requires setting boundaries, prioritizing rest, and making time for joyful, cup-filling activities that rejuvenate your mind, body, and soul.
1. Build wellness into your work calendar.
Whether it's practicing yoga, meditating, spending time in nature, or nurturing personal relationships, make an appointment with yourself—every week—to recharge your spirit, and honor it as much as you would an appointment with a client. Make it a non-negotiable priority.
2. Barter services with other healers.
Money is our culture’s most common way to say thank you to people who bring value to our lives, but it’s not the only way to give back to those who help you. As a healer, you have valuable skills the world needs, and many other healers would love to experience your gifts. Trading services with other wellness practitioners is a wonderful way to ensure that both of you are getting the care you need without breaking the bank. Bonus: once they experience how great you are, they can recommend you to others!
3. Find yOur people.
In addition to making it easier to barter for services, connecting with a community of healers offers you a safe space for sharing experience, seeking advice, and receiving encouragement. This network becomes a source of strength and resilience, and as you realize you have allies cheering you on, you’ll find that your cup runneth over.
Heal Your Clients—and Yourself—at The Healing Society
If you’re searching for a supportive community to feed your spirit and foster your healing practice, The Healing Society is the answer. It’s a place where wellness practitioners can prioritize their own well-being, connect with others who share their journey, and access the resources they need to thrive.
As a Healing Society member, you’ll get so much more than a space to work in. You’ll make friends at our events, get free marketing through our social platforms, and connect, collaborate, and cross-promote your offerings in a supportive community that celebrates your growth.
You can learn more about The Healing Society here, or if you’re ready to see for yourself, schedule a tour of our beautiful East Nashville spaces. Growth, healing, and a meaningful living await.