Episode 1: Helping People Shouldn't Cost You Your Whole Life

Helping people should cost you something. But it should not cost you everything.

Many people who work in healthcare, education, counseling, ministry, social services, and other helping professions slowly get used to putting themselves last. At first, it feels like dedication. Over time, however, work can begin to take up so much space that rest, relationships, health, hobbies, and personal goals get pushed aside.

The problem isn't that you care too much.

The problem is that somewhere along the way, caring for others can start to come at the expense of caring for yourself.

In this first episode of Helping from the Inside Out, Rosa Jones explores the hidden cost many helpers pay when work becomes their entire life and offers a simple question that can help you recognize when the balance has shifted:

"Am I paying too much?"

Whether you're a counselor, therapist, teacher, healthcare professional, social worker, caregiver, pastor, or anyone whose work revolves around helping others, this episode is a reminder that your well-being matters too.

In This Episode

• Why helpers often put their own lives on hold
• How overfunctioning at work can lead to underfunctioning in your own life
• Common signs that work may be taking up too much space
• A simple question to help you regain perspective and balance

Reflection Question

What is one thing you've been putting off because work has taken up too much space in your life?

Take a moment to think about it—or better yet, put it on your calendar today.

Share This Episode

Know someone who spends their days helping others?

Share this episode with a colleague, friend, supervisor, teacher, healthcare professional, counselor who may need this reminder today.

Episode Transcript

Welcome to Helping from the Inside Out, a weekly moment of encouragement for human services and healthcare professionals. If your work is to care for others, this space is for you. Each week, we offer a short reminder to protect your well-being so you can keep serving with strength. This podcast is brought to you by Freedom Support Services, where our vision is to heal people who heal the world. Helping people should cost you something, but

It shouldn't cost you everything. I don't know why you serve the way you do, but for me, I do it because I love people. And because of the work I do, I can't always say, I love you, see you tomorrow. But instead, I try to show people love by being present, serving them well, and giving them my full attention when we're together. But here's the problem: when helping people becomes your entire life, eventually

Something starts to break down. If you keep putting off the trips, relationships, rest, hobbies, your health, need I go on, or the things that make you feel alive because work takes up all of the space in your life. Work is costing you more than you can pay. A lot of us were taught, whether directly or indirectly, to measure our worth by how productive we are. And if we're not careful,

Caring for people can slowly become your identity instead of just a part of your identity. You start overfunctioning at work and underfunctioning in your own life. And after a while, resentment starts showing up, not because you hate helping people, but because somewhere along the way you disappear from your own life. Work is a part of your life, but it is not all of your life. So do yourself a favor.

The next time you feel frustrated, bitter, exhausted, or angry because there's something you need or want to do, but work comes first, I want you to pause and ask yourself, Am I paying too much? And if the answer is yes, listen, schedule the thing, book that trip, go to the doctor, start working off, take the day off. Because nobody.

And give you permission to live your life except for you. Not your clients, not your customers, not your patients, not your students, not your church members, not your boss. Only you can do that. The people you serve deserve a healthy and whole version of you. And honestly, so do you.

Did this blush a light? Share this with another professional and visit us at www.myfreedomss.com/podcast.

Thank you so much for listening today. If this has helped you, be sure to hit the subscribe button wherever you're watching or listening. Share this with another healer or helper who gives so much to others. Visit us at www.myfreedomss.com/podcast for more resources. Until next time, keep helping from the inside out.