There is a parallel in training consultants and training listeners for a suicide phoneline. 📞
Both require the trainees to be
– curious about themselves
– curious about human nature
– care deeply about the impact they make
– resilient in the face of obstacles
– unafraid of reaching out and asking for help
– open to feedback
Most of all, they need to be able to have a level of self-awareness and be able to introspect deeply.
One of the things I learned training new #Samaritans volunteers is that those who write in their self-reflection logs, reflecting critically about their journey are more likely to be ok in a role that is emotionally very challenging.
It may be that through this process, they will come to find that the role is not for them.
And it’s perfectly ok.
Being on a crisis phoneline to callers who are feeling suicidal is not easy.
But neither is being a consultant – under constant pressure to work all hours, to put up with demands and to maintain utilisation with limited training and support.
Those who haven’t done the emotional labour of looking inward and asking hard questions will find it difficult when things start heating up.
(This is true of both parties).
I believe that this can be extrapolated into different areas of work and life.
#SelfAwareness and #Introspection is a part of #EmotionalIntelligence that sets some people apart from others. 💘
This requires an inquisitive mind and non-judgemental questioning skills, as well as the willingness to dig deep, even when it’s uncomfortable.
Few people do this, because there’s nothing worse than finding out that you’re “not good enough”.
I think there’s a different way of framing this.
A fish will never be as good at climbing trees as a chimp. 🐟🌴🐒
And chimps will never be as good as a fish with chips and ketchup. 😬
(OK – I have been waiting awhile to use that joke) 😆
What I’m trying to say is that it’s ok if you find out that you’re not cut out for the path that you’re currently on, as long as you’ve thought deeply about it.
Those who blindly follow the path without being thoughtful about the journey are likely to find themselves asking the questions, “What am I doing here? How did I get to this point? Is this really where I want to be?”
Whatever you decide to do, do it with your eyes wide open.
That’s the only way to see the potholes and the 💩 along the way.
If you see that you need to step into a stinky sticky ick to get where you want to go, then you’ll just have to plan to buy new shoes when you get there. 👠
Many walk through life like a zombie, completely oblivious of where they are going and then wondering how they ended up with their brains falling out.
Pause.
Reflect.
Introspect.
Don’t be where you’re not meant to be.
However, make sure it’s YOU who made that decision, and not someone else.
The future you will thank you for that. 😊
ps: WHOA my analogy game is strong tonight! 😁