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Something Worth SharingOxygen Mask of Kindness Back in 2021, I completed a project based on kindness; I completed 2,000 daily acts of kindness (or to put it another way, 5.5 years). In the latter stages of the project I looked at a specific area of kindness: that of self-kindness. In particular I had become fascinated by the challenges we experience around receiving kindness and being kind to ourselves - and how much of an issue this is when it comes to leadership, parenting and being responsible for others, such as health-care workers and teachers. This month is World Mental Health Day (October, 10th) and the theme is “time to prioritise mental health in the workplace”. When I saw the suggestions given by various mental health organisations, they all focus on managers and leaders supporting their people. This is certainly important and something I agree with, however from my own experience, that of many clients and extensive research over 5.5 years, it made me ask myself this question: “what about those that need to help others?”. Most of us are familiar with the flight attendants instructions during their safety briefing: ‘put your own oxygen mask on before helping others’. As Maya Angelou said: “Nothing will work unless you do.”
This is such sound advice. You can’t help anyone if you’re not well enough yourself. You can’t support someone with burn-out if you are suffering from burn-out. How a leader - or person in a position of responsibility for others - looks after themselves sets an example for everyone. The learn this week is possibly more of a reminder - to put your own oxygen mask of kindness on yourself before helping others, even that of your parents, partner, colleagues, and children.
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