What do you think when you here the word advocacy or volunteer? Is it “gee I need to do that”, but its always on my “someday” to do list? Does it bring up any emotions? Are you thinking, ‘I am depressed, over-whelmed and I can barely take care of me, I don’t have time for others right now.’?
For me when I was younger I was lucky enough to have a mom that often said, “do something kind for someone today.” While I may have rolled my eyesat this; those sage words did stick. She also happened to refer to it when I was feeling low always telling me to do something for others. At the time I did not really appreciate how helping, and advocacy could help my depression, my low confidence, my issues. Me. Me. Me. It was all about me apparently. But that’s the point isn’t it. I was focusing too much on me. At the time I needed a perspective shift to see the world beyond what’s in my own head, and my own experiences. I also found benefit from some gratitude for my life, and a sense of purpose allowing for my mental health to have more contributing factors than just my mood from day to day.
I might add helping others is a natural way to trigger endorphins in our body. And not that you are doing this solely for your own benefit, but I do believe our body can give us hints on what is good for us, the same way laughter and physical activity release endorphins so does helping others. This works this way, because perhaps it’s part of our genetic makeup to be helpful, and compassionate, and not walk alone in the life.
There is also another reason aside from purpose, sense of gratitude or making you feel good that I think advocacy should be part of ones mental health hygiene. Advocacy for others aids many in not feeling helpless. As I write this there is political turmoil (I mean when is there not, but there seems to be a higher “terror alert” right now), and many people that I speak to as a therapist are describing their unique experience as the bottom has dropped out, they can’t catch their breath, or just crushing feelings of hopeless helpless doom. When this occurs in life yes you must grieve and give grace, but I would also argue the benefit of action. Action of course that is thoughtful, and within the bounds of your moral compass can have a profound impact on your spirit, confidence, energy whatever you want to call it. An act of advocacy, or contribution can have ripple effects on your world and might I add, the world.
So I am going to put my lil soap box of well-intentioned advice aside, but I have one more question, before I mosey on. When you hear someone say, “help me,” what do you feel?
