Action or Result?

Glad to be back with all those than Can 

Hear Me!  I hope the week has treated you well, and if not may you recognize another opportunity to learn and move forward.  When I sit down to write, my audience is always in my thoughts.  My inspiration comes from that place of knowing that what I am sharing is helping someone in need. It is truly an opportunity to be empowered and inspired in a manner that lifts me up as I strive to help you help yourself.  It's definitely a parallel process, one that I receive from greatly, while reinforcing my model of support.  Lately I have been thinking about the idea of intention (purpose or attitude toward the effect of one's actions).  It is something that I feel is such a primary influence in how we walk through life, take care of ourselves (physically and emotionally) and ultimately how we are able to reach others in a positive and effective manner with our practice.

 If someone were to come up to you at work and ask you "what is your intention with this case/client?"  You would most likely give a response that was clearly in line with the best interests of the client, effective support, appropriate resources and interventions to help where needed, etc.  Now, put yourself in the field, under the pressure of the day, interacting with the obstacles and barriers that present themselves, and the affect that has been internalized over time and now may be triggered... What is your intention now?  You can say it is the same as when you were initially engaged, but is that coming from a place of intellectual reasoning?  Are you really present with that intention?  My point is that our intention in practice, although for the right thing, may often be affected/effected by the exposure of and long term effects of stress, fatigue, lack of hope, frustration (which often is impatience hiding within), and many other factors that can negatively impact our self.  So what do you do?

I recently finished the book Trauma Stewardship by Laura van Dernoot Lipsky (with Connie Burk) "An Everyday Guide to Caring for Self While Caring for Others." The book is a great reference (and tool) that provides several opportunities to help you help yourself.  The authors do a great job of incorporating personal stories (interviews from various helping professionals), in addition to sound research, books, and online resources for you to further investigate and learn from.  Part four of this book (Following the Five Directions) is a very helpful tool to any and all who strive to do the self-work and self-exploration needed in order to effectively help themselves, while ultimately reaching those in need.  Here you will be exposed to available support by creating space for inquiry, choosing our focus, building compassion and community, finding balance, and utilizing a daily practice of centering ourselves.  Because I have read this book and have been able to grasp this resource, I'm always available to listen, support, guide, and help you help yourself.  So, if and when please feel free to reach out!

As you move closer to the weekend, my hope for you is that your intention finds you in a place that has your best interests in mind, leading you towards action that creates positive results.  Until we meet again keep walking with your head up and heart open, tomorrow is a brand new day, one that you get to create!

 About Author
 








Daniel Jacob, MSW  Email

Founder of Can You Hear Me?  External Field Instructor at University of Southern California School of Social Work MSW@USC.  Daniel has a Masters in Social Work (Families and Children Practice/School Social Work).  He is currently nearing the completion of the LCSW testing process.  
More about the man behind the mission ⇢