Have you felt burnout at work, home, with friends or when community volunteering?

To my delight Berrett-Koehler Publishers sent me the the PDF version of Trauma Stewardship – An Every Day Guide to Caring for Self While Caring for Others by Laura van Dernoot Lipsky with Connie Burk. Intrigued, I dove in thinking about how my job as a teacher in inner city schools for over 23 years and being a part of the sandwich generation had its moments of stress. I recommend reading it if you feel your job, volunteering and/or caregiving has left you feeling like a dishrag or that you have just spun out of a blender and splatted against the wall.

This book begins by intensely defining and analyzing trauma stewardship. Lipsky then discusses our responses to trauma exposure followed by 16 warning signs. I found I could relate to some of her symptoms at different points in my life. She then frames a path to healing using a compass of five directions. A number of these suggestions we have all heard before, but it is the five-direction model that is sticky and motivating.

After reading this book I thought, hmmm how does this trauma framework compare to other problematic resulting behaviour assessments such as burnout, vicarious trauma and secondary trauma stress. I did a cursory google of these terms to get a better understanding then referred back to Lipsky’s book and understand that the term Trauma Stewardship is in reference to the discussion of all the components involved in the cyclical nature of service and nurturing to others. It not only acknowledges that vicarious, secondary trauma and burnout exists but that the topic is complex and requires that we remember to not only nurture and service others, but we must make choices to keep ourselves true and able to maintain the strength to be a steward.

I know so many people who serve others at work, home and in their communities with such loving passion. I also have seen many of these people in pools of tears frustrated with the lack of resources and support. I also have seen many who are just plain old tired and are in need of a rest plus need encouragement to set healthy boundaries (ie. cultivating the responses 1-no or 2-these are my limits).

I have copied and pasted the email from this wonderful publisher that is rooted in abundance mentality. I highly recommend that you check out their site and consider following their authors. This publishing company is going above and beyond to support leadership that is positive, proactive and healing.

Dazzle’s Challenge:

Quick Take Away Links:

Have you felt burnout at work, home, with friends or when community volunteering?

To my delight Berrett-Koehler Publishers sent me the the PDF version of Trauma Stewardship – An Every Day Guide to Caring for Self While Caring for Others by Laura van Dernoot Lipsky with Connie Burk. Intrigued, I dove in thinking about how my job as a teacher in inner city schools for over 23 years and being a part of the sandwich generation had its moments of stress. I recommend reading it if you feel your job, volunteering and/or caregiving has left you feeling like a dishrag or that you have just spun out of a blender and splatted against the wall.

This book begins by intensely defining and analyzing trauma stewardship. Lipsky then discusses our responses to trauma exposure followed by 16 warning signs. I found I could relate to some of her symptoms at different points in my life. She then frames a path to healing using a compass of five directions. A number of these suggestions we have all heard before, but it is the five-direction model that is sticky and motivating.

After reading this book I thought, hmmm how does this trauma framework compare to other problematic resulting behaviour assessments such as burnout, vicarious trauma and secondary trauma stress. I did a cursory google of these terms to get a better understanding then referred back to Lipsky’s book and understand that the term Trauma Stewardship is in reference to the discussion of all the components involved in the cyclical nature of service and nurturing to others. It not only acknowledges that vicarious, secondary trauma and burnout exists but that the topic is complex and requires that we remember to not only nurture and service others, but we must make choices to keep ourselves true and able to maintain the strength to be a steward.

I know so many people who serve others at work, home and in their communities with such loving passion. I also have seen many of these people in pools of tears frustrated with the lack of resources and support. I also have seen many who are just plain old tired and are in need of a rest plus need encouragement to set healthy boundaries (ie. cultivating the responses 1-no or 2-these are my limits).

I have copied and pasted the email from this wonderful publisher that is rooted in abundance mentality. I highly recommend that you check out their site and consider following their authors. This publishing company is going above and beyond to support leadership that is positive, proactive and healing.

Dazzle’s Challenge:

Quick Take Away Links: