Page 45 - March 2021 Voices

A caring heart needs to be carefully maintained to avoid falling prey to the ravages of life.

The heart is considered the center of a and nurturing. A rule of thumb is that the more

person’s thoughts and emotions. It is the source stress you experience in your life, the more social
of interpersonal charity. A caring heart needs support you require.
to be carefully maintained to avoid falling prey There are a myriad of opportunities for
to the ravages of life. In my experience, this continued self improvement available at

is greatly enhanced through spiritual means; workshops or on the web. Some options are
theory alone will fall short under stress. I yoga, Ti Chi, Mindfulness, etc. Sports clubs
have noted that the word ‘spiritual’ is an alien promote health and social mixing. Develop an
concept in psychological circles. Many people understanding of your personality style as some

live through their lives without paying attention are more susceptible to stress. For example, a
to the spiritual aspect of their being. Research person who strives for cleanliness, orderliness,
has shown that a person will function optimally timeliness, correctness, etc. is more prone to
with a positive spiritual orientation and practice. anxiety under stress. Don’t hesitate to seek

Typically, this will involve such activities professional counseling to overcome chronic
as reading, meditation, and prayer. With daily symptoms associated with depression, anxiety,
practice, this can empower one to develop skills or compulsions. Through self-awareness, sound
in resiliency for challenging times. self-care, social support, workshops and other

There are questionnaires and checklists that trainings, you can maintain your adaptive
are useful in monitoring rising stress levels for functioning. Accordingly, you can maintain your
early intervention measures. Self test examples readiness to optimize your charity for others.
available online are: Professional Quality of Life Bryce and his spouse, Bernice, are DTM’s who

Measure ProQOL, and Compassion Fatigue and/ founded the Toastmaster Stevenson Breakfast Club
Satisfaction Self Test for Helpers. in 1990. Dr. McCollum is a licensed psychologist,
Self-care needs to be routine. Basic functions providing psychological services since 1974. Dr.
such as nutrition and sleep are critical. Do your McCollum offers many different types of services and

best to maintain the benefits of a balance of is available to serve in many types of venues. (This
time between work, play, and people. Avoid article originally edited by Elizabeth Spitzer.)
retreating to altered states of consciousness
through substances or excessive tv, computer,

video time. Talk with others about stressful
events when they are available. Also, consider
attending a support group with like-minded
people seeking self-improvement, education,

VOICES! | MARCH 2021 45