Developing Your Empathy Endurance
Are you feeling "compassion fatigue" right now? Where you feel like you just no longer have the capacity to support others, while they may be crumbling around you? The energy of June can bring this up and it might express itself emotionally or physically. For those of us who are very sensitive and very used to helping others, it can take it's toll over time and make us feel burnt out!
Krystal is often feeling this kind of emotional weight very physically (anyone else have super sore shoulders right now??). It's always such a good practice to check in with your body when you're feeling emotionally drained. We can refill our cup by caring extra well for our bodies during this time. Taking a nice warm bath, drinking extra water, spending time doing some gentle soothing stretches, or even booking a massage could be helpful ways to navigate any extra weight you're carrying.
If you're feeling that compassion burnout, it's also a prime time to practice honouring your boundaries and ensuring that you are caring for yourself first. Remind yourself that it's not selfish or uncaring to center your needs, especially in these times when we know that we will always be coming back around to care for those around us. Trust in the capacity of others, and lean on community. Look for balance here - which is a constant practice.
Let Go & Watch Life Happen
With all that may be going on for you this month, you might find yourself trying to control what's happening around you. But June's energy asks us to take a back seat and simply watch things unfold and see that life is working out for us.
When we are experiencing big waves and changes, we can come back to the practice of letting go of our desire for control and see if we can stand back and just observe life. So often we can over-identify with our feelings and reactions to life. But when we can just see the events, see our reactions, and hold it all in loving curiosity, we open ourselves up to really experience it all.
Take time to rest and let the changes happen. You might find, just like I did, that things can change very quickly, in such amazing ways. After just a short search we found a home that feels like an upgrade for us in every way. We are doing the big work of letting go of all the boxes of stuff that has collected over the past couple years, and are looking forward to a fresh start.
"Letting go can be hard," my 7-year-old empathized with my 9-year old as they both attempted to narrow down their stuffed animal collection. Neither of them was particularly successful at letting go of their beloved stuffies, but they did touch on a truth I'm sure we can all relate to!
But letting go is a practice like anything else, and if you can find some places to let go a little bit this month, you might find yourself finding more ease and peace in your heart, and making space for great things to come in.
