How can you cope with compassion fatigue as a philanthropy storyteller?

I’ve been suffering from depression and bipolar diroder since I was a teenager. The lockdown have been a real challenge since I was completely immersed in my work. Probably a way to detach from the situation around me. That strategy did not work and my mental health worsened. I ended up in a clinic for a couple of months. What did I learned? Be passionate about your job, but you cannot change the world, just help a group of beneficiaries.

Nearly 25 years in animal welfare and I have recently been diagnosed with compassion fatigue and PTSD. I wish I could say I’m surprised. Unfortunately, I thought I was invincible and pushed too hard. I ignored the panic attacks, depression, anxiety, emotional and physical pain. I had to leave the field I loved because I was falling apart. Please, know your limits. Care for yourself and each other. As hard as it is to say (and hear), you cannot save the world. You can make a difference every day - maybe it’s just for one animal. But that’s a win. Celebrate it! And then go home and spend time with your pets, family, significant other. Don’t forget how special you are! ??

You can say “No” to an opportunity and still be a good person. It looks simple, but it is hard to do. Protect your time, energy, and space so you have the resources necessary for the long haul.

Having a sounding board helps. Without the help of a second pair of eyes, often by the time we notice or realise anything about ourselves, it is usually quite late into the downward spiral that it could be harder to help get ourselves out of whatever has been negative that we are in. My husband plays this essential role for me, which I deeply appreciate because he knows me well and is familiar with my body language, styles, idiosyncrasies, and habits. Having built a strong bond with a deep level of trust in each other, I feel safe to be myself when I am with him, and he feels safe to tell me honestly as he sees and notices any changes in me. That helps him to notice when I am not being my usual self. So, who has been your sounding board?

In order to have the greatest impact helping others, its important first to make sure that your own cup overflows with appreciation about your own life. We all have challenges, that's life. But we also can find 1000's of things to have gratitude for. If we constantly review this list and add more every day, we will be in the best mindset and have the tools to deal with the myriad of pain and challenges that others are dealing with.

Having a purpose or goal with upfront clarity about the extent based on time allocation/commitment, area of focus or contribution, own abilities/health/skills, support from family, financial needs etc. is of a great help in sustaining the meaningful work we do and in enjoying it during the journey!

Setting a time boundary is, to me, the easiest to do and most important step not only in coping with compassion fatigue, but also to protect your healthy personal time and space. This is a common mistake that most new starters make, believing that the more available they are, the more opportunities they will get in making new connections, getting new leads, and achieving more. Have a look at your operating hours. If you set it as available 24 hours 7 days a week, that could be your early risk indicator that some part of your personal life might have been affected. It could be your sleep and rest, the quality time to be present with your loved ones, your personal freedom of building important routine and discipline. What do you think?

Most of us struggle with boundaries that we inflict upon ourselves. A valuable way to set boundaries is to examine the ones we are breaking without any external forces. For example, if you tend to work too long unnecessarily, then calling that out to yourself and setting some progressive goals to reduce it can be helpful. Something as simple as taking a lunch break, finishing at a certain time, not checking after hours can be powerful in breaking bad habits and setting new boundaries that help us succeed in a healthy way long term.

Throughout my career and indeed personal life, I often practiced the adage “ one must slow down to speed up.” The pace of information flow is exponentially faster and absorbing vital nuggets is essential for successful interaction no matter the task at hand. And, taking three deep breadths as often as one can on any given day cleans the mind while making space to absorb and assimilate the information in front of you. This will also facilitate prioritization, boundaries and balance.

Setting healthy boundaries is essential for self-preservation as a philanthropy storyteller. It's okay to limit your emotional investment and establish clear boundaries with sources, colleagues, and your audience. This balance ensures your well-being while maintaining your effectiveness in your role.

I start my day with a walk in nature. This morning I saw the most beautiful rainbow. The lake, the sunrise, the birds, those are the most gratifying reminders that kiss us and say thank you on behalf of all we have helped through our work.

Self-care is non-negotiable when combating compassion fatigue. Prioritize it by nourishing your physical and emotional well-being through activities like exercise, meditation, and spending time on your passions. Don't forget to seek support from friends, family, or professionals when needed. Remember, taking care of yourself is not selfish but essential for your effectiveness and resilience as a philanthropy storyteller.

When the world closes in on me, I take some time to meditate, pray, or relax. After dozens of these coping tactics, I've found it takes about seven minutes to clear my head of all the noise. It's the best response when I'm pushed beyond my limits. Then, I'm ready to resume the work with fresh energy and a positive attitude.

Self care is critical and everyone has a different level of capacity to deal with compassion fatigue. For me, I spend time with the senior beneficiaries at service. Their smiles and kind words are my best cure and provide great relief plus these sessions remind me of the "why" behind the "what" I do. :)

Coping with compassion fatigue as a philanthropy storyteller can be challenging. Our work revolves around sharing emotionally charged and sometimes distressing stories. Knowing how compassion fatigue manifests can make a difference in how it impacts our lives, work, and familyies. Look out for - emotional exhaustion and burnout. A good sign of this is the depleted capacity to connect with our own emotions or empathize with others. This leads to a diminished capacity to convey genuine empathy in our narratives. Prolonged exposure to distressing stories and the emotional toll it takes on us can lead to physical and mental health issues. Coping strategies might include developing Resilience and seeking therapy.

Building community is one of the best ways to live a healthy life. Connection with others is an important way to build our own resilience when it comes to this work. While webinars and courses can be helpful, there may be time and/or cost challenges with this. Look for people to connect with who make you feel safe and energized. These folks will be invaluable in supporting you, and of course you will be invaluable in supporting them. Community connection and mutual aid are pathways to long term health.

Learning from others is a valuable strategy to combat compassion fatigue. Engage with fellow philanthropy storytellers, attend relevant workshops, and explore informative resources. Sharing experiences and insights within a supportive community can provide guidance and inspiration, enhancing your ability to navigate the emotional challenges of your role.

Asset based story telling can inspire people to give while at the same time preserving and upholding the dignity of the people we are telling stories about/with. Flip the old philanthropic narrative on its head to be able to tell stories of strength, not just deficits. Consider who is telling the story and of course what compensation there is as well. Sharing personal stories is a costly endeavour for people in terms of time, emotional, and mental effort. Build your program to account for this and it will serve you and others well.

In my experience seeing the good in the bad is really critical. I like to pivot around a story or issue and look at what is positive and can be learned or gained from even the most challenging stories. What cane we see and celebrate with people. In food Culture and personal taste is so critical and so we can often see "Good" in food in some way even in times where food is scarce.

I think those of us who work in the community sector tend to have overly high expectations of what we can deliver. I try to focus on the story of one person - whenever I hear about just one success I feel wonderful and grateful that we have made a difference for one. Be proud of whatever you do, however "small" it seems because we are making a difference to the world!

This is insightful, because compassion fatigue is felt by both ourselves and the donors we're trying to inspire. When we focused solely on the history, the wrongs of a prior generation, it was too far removed. We changed the messaging to be more relevant today - about not repeating mistakes and that became a more powerful message. If I were still at the museum, I would change the message again to the positive stories of patrons of the museum, how they are more connected to their families because of what they learned at the museum.

Stories include impact and success. It’s not only important to tell those stories to inspire others but it helps ourselves stay in the field and recognize why we’re there and honor ourselves for the purpose driven lives we lead.

I am a big believer in taking time away to explore creative interests, to be in nature, to enjoy the company of people in my life that I love and care about. For the times when I am working and need to replenish my capacity for compassion, I love to talk with people who support our cause and learn what inspires them to volunteer, donate, or advocate in the hopes of making our world a better place.

Stay connected to your purpose. I became a storyteller for social change because I wanted to help bring unheard voices to the forefront and to provide people with the tools and opportunities to tell their own stories, in their own voice. Seeing people inspired by the power of their own stories, and by the agency to transform their own lives, is the best remedy to compassion fatigue. That, and of course self-care and good mentoring.

In my experience, it’s not so much storytelling as it is story listening. God gave us two ears and one mouth for a reason. When we listen to others, we can find out about their motivations and values, which is much more important than our own. If we want our audience to hear us, we must hear them first

In my opinion, our philanthropic pursuits should always start with taking great care of ourselves before we can take good care of others. In the past two years alone, I have encountered too many people known as angels and advisers to others who broke down because they didn't take good care of themselves along the way. They were always the ones people went to when people had problems, and they had no one that they could go to when they had problems themselves. Sadly, one of them committed suicide. So please take great care of yourself. This is a reminder to me as well as it is often easier to see others' problems than ours. For that, I have always been a great advocate of self-love, and I make sure to love myself in life. What about you?

Fatigue is a natural signal that you're out of balance. Don't fight it. Don't deny it. Accept that it's real and not something "wrong" with you. Here's how you might reframe the compassion fatigue you're feeling: 1. Recall your original story of when your professional storytelling skills perfectly matched a moment of compassion. 2. Recall what you felt deep inside. 3. How did it infuse your work? Your connection? 4. Now recall/invite a time when a person/family on whom your compassion was focused demonstrated resilience, hope, and possibility despite their circumstances. 5. What was it about them (at their core) that you most admired? 6. Tell THAT story...even if for the 15th time. 7. Finally remember: you never know the influence you have