Introduction
We’re born right into a world of comparisons. One of many first comparisons is discovered within the query “who does the infant appear like? Then there are the comparability statements. “The newborn has hair similar to her mom when she was a child.” “He has his father’s eyes.” Comparisons don’t cease there. We’re taught to look at, analyze, and measure our value based mostly on how we understand others. “You need to be extra like your sister.” “I want you possibly can sing like your brother.” “Your buddy is such a very good pupil, why don’t you examine lots like her?”
Once we spend time evaluating ourselves to others, we fill house with hurtful ideas, emotions and beliefs that result in nervousness, despair, and stress.
On this weblog publish we’re going to speak concerning the comparisons and behaviors that trigger nervousness, despair and stress. We may even suggest wholesome responses.
Welcome
Welcome to the REAL Social Employees On-line Journal that is the place the place we help and encourage social staff, like me, by means of strategic stress administration and answer targeted self-care.
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Options, Figures, and Style
As girls social staff over 40, we now have doubtless struggled with cultural and familial expectations of magnificence and femininity. The media bombards us with pictures of youth, slim figures, and delicate options because the epitome of magnificence. Fashionable clothes appears to solely be obtainable to girls who’ve little or no curves or form. It may be so irritating, particularly once we are sometimes judged by the clothes we put on.
Have these slender definitions and lack of availability precipitated you to match your look and physique picture to others? How have your life experiences formed your self-image?
This immense stress to adapt to traditional magnificence requirements can add to the psychological toll social staff expertise resulting in nervousness, despair, and elevated stress.
Whereas exterior forces attempt to dictate magnificence beliefs, we all know that true magnificence comes from inside. Many people share the identical message with the youth we work with every day. True magnificence stems from self-acceptance, valuing your inherent items and talents, and focusing much less on comparability. As social staff, we all know magnificence will not be one-dimensional. It encompasses all facets of an individual together with character.
The idea of magnificence is usually bolstered within the house. Contemplate how your loved ones and upbringing formed your view of femininity and wonder. Did you obtain optimistic affirmations round your look and skills, or did you’re feeling stress to adapt to others’ requirements? Mirror on how one can embrace your genuine self and reframe the narrative. Set an intention to understand your distinctive bodily attributes, the knowledge you will have gained over time, and the ability you wield to impact change. Releasing the underlying want to fulfill unrealistic societal magnificence expectations can significantly cut back nervousness and promote vanity. The larger our vanity, the extra doubtless we are going to expertise enduring optimistic moods.
Energy, Place, and Place
Comparisons that have an effect on our skill to work successfully within the office contain energy, place, and place. Within the office, we could cope with competitors, microaggressions, and the necessity to show our competence. Have you ever had colleagues take credit score on your concepts or skilled others questioning your judgment? These are refined microaggressions that undermines psychological security within the office. Feedback about look, being confused with others of the identical race or nationality, or assumptions that you just maintain a decrease stage of authority all improve stress and self-doubt. These are additionally examples of microaggressions.
You do not need to interact or obtain the detrimental communication as legitimate or true. Keep away from connecting your self-worth to exterior validation. Entry your internal knowledge and belief your capabilities.
Bear in mind to focus in your expertise and skills with out comparability to others. When you discover these experiences impacting your psychological well being, search therapeutic help. Social staff are ethically obligated to interact in self-care.
To domesticate a optimistic and influential presence at work, concentrate on others greater than your self. Mentor a colleague who’s new to the occupation. Ask open-ended and reflective inquiries to foster understanding. Hear attentively. Keep away from fast judgments by acknowledging your biases. Additionally put down your telephone to be totally current! An individual with lively presence solely must stroll right into a room to command consideration.
A peaceable mindset is one other instance of genuine magnificence. It additionally enhances skilled interactions. Deliberately set time for meditation to domesticate a way of calm and peace. Discover actions exterior work that deliver you pleasure and peace of thoughts. Make self-care a precedence to forestall burnout.
Closing
At this stage of life and profession, know your value and proceed to let your internal mild shine. Share your items with the world. Uplift different girls round you by specializing in their skills, not appearances. Discover optimistic function fashions who embody self-acceptance and authenticity. Discover actions that show you how to tune out judgment and really feel extra assured. Collectively, we are able to redefine magnificence on our personal phrases, worth internal qualities over outward look, and amplify each other’s voices. We’re robust, not susceptible. Our expertise offers us perspective and empathy. As social staff, we now have a lot to supply. Let’s embrace genuine magnificence in all its numerous shapes, sizes, and colours.
What messages do you will have for fellow girls social staff navigating these points? How can we raise one another up and rejoice our collective energy? Please share within the feedback.
Marcyline Bailey is a Licensed Medical Social Employee and a member of the Academy of Licensed Social Employees. She is the proprietor of M.L. Bailey Consultants, LLC, a personal remedy apply that makes a speciality of grief, loss, nervousness and despair. Ms. Bailey is the host of “Stress Speak” a video and audio podcast that focuses on serving to girls over 40 reside wholesome lives by means of strategic stress administration and answer targeted self-care.
