how to fight burnout with radical compassion
The air is cooling and the whispers of summer have faded. The chill sits on the tip of my nose during morning walks and like honey moving slowly from a cold jar, I am being asked to slow down. The frenzied heat of warmer months has passed. October brings the warmth of hot chocolate and cider and the promise of the coming respite of winter.
This weekend, underneath blankets and woolly socks I watched The Woman King. I know I am so late but in my defense, I was waiting for the right moment to take it all in! And oh my, what an incredible display of collective visioning, Black resilience, and sheer strength of body, character, and will. I was so hype watching these women issue carnage to deserving colonizers and their allies. I watched them carry on their ample shoulders the reality of the changing world around them and do their best to protect themselves and their community. And they did so while holding the deep wounds of their own trauma stories. There is such a resonance of generational resilience in this film that holds wisdom for modern warriors of the heart, mind, and spirit.
As a trauma therapist working through the pandemic shutdown I was logging up to 80 hours of work a week—all while homeschooling my teenager, managing drastic shifts in my household, and trying to ensure the stability of my own well-being. Often the work of healers and leaders is heart-forward and a passionate response to the injustices they witness. And it can be hard in the midst of that good work for us to set boundaries around our time and energy to ensure that our work is sustainable. In a world where change-makers and healers, especially those of the global majority, work tirelessly to transform communities and institutions, it's easy to forget one essential person in the equation: yourself. Whether you are a solo healer navigating change, or deep in the beautiful mess of community work, the journey of dismantling systemic and generational trauma can be emotionally and mentally draining. That's why radical self-compassion is a foundational pillar in our path toward sustainable activism and healing.
The Invisible Weight of Systemic Trauma
Systemic trauma, is deeply ingrained in the fabric of our society, and casts a long shadow over the lives of many. It shapes our perceptions, beliefs, and even our sense of self-worth. For POC change-makers and healers, this trauma is not only systemic but often intergenerational, carried forward from ancestors who struggled against injustice. The impact can be profound, manifesting in self-doubt, burnout, and the relentless pursuit of productivity.
In a society that often marginalizes Black, Brown & Native voices, it's easy to internalize feelings of inadequacy. Acknowledge this impact as the first step towards healing. You are NOT the problem.
Many of us feel pressured to overachieve to compensate for systemic inequalities. This pressure can lead to burnout and that hamster wheel of productivity—which we all know, drains the passion and fire from your work.
Radical Self-Compassion: Your Shield Against Burnout
Radical self-compassion can be a shield to burnout and the legacy of systemic trauma. It's about treating yourself with the same kindness and understanding that you extend to others in your community. I am a firm believer that we cannot self-care our way out of the harsh realities of dangerous systems. But we can create internal and external systems that provide us with zones of safety as we navigate our day-to-day lives. Here's my top five methods for how to embrace it:
Embracing Your Worth
In the quest to co-create radically safe spaces and heal from the wounds of systemic trauma, the most profound transformation begins with yourself. This autumn as you continue to shed what is no longer yours, extend the compassion you offer to others to your own being. You are an entire force in the movement for justice and healing. You deserve the sweet respite of a compassionate heart.
