Hardwired to Help
When people call 911, it’s an indication that something is wrong, and they require help. We’re trained to look for problems.
The same is true for most military members, health care professionals and first responders.
When things are going well, the phone tends to be silent. People reach out because they need something. Our work trains us to approach each interaction looking to quickly assess the problem, and see how we might assist.
This can be a hard pattern to step out of when we leave the office or our work.
It can be exhausting. At work, there may always be a problem. When we go home, it’s important that we allow ourselves to rest. It makes the challenging moments more rewarding and keeps us healthier in the long run.
Allow yourselves to enjoy the silent moments when they occur. Our best selves emerge after stretches of quality down time. This is only possible when we are able to truly allow ourselves to be off duty.
Warm thoughts,
Belinda Seagram, Ph.D., R. Psych.
Executive Director, Landing Strong
