I had surgery over a year ago, and being under anaesthesia transformed my perspective. One moment, I was awake—thinking, planning, believing I had everything under control. Then suddenly... nothingness. I surrendered all control, entrusting myself to the doctors, nurses, and the surgical team—ultimately, to God—to bring me back to my loved ones waiting for me.
This experience made me reflect on us as professionals. We spend so much time being the one who knows—the one who solves problems and keeps the team together. But who takes care of you? We often convince ourselves we’re in control, even as our bodies and minds whisper, “You need to stop.” The exhaustion, headaches, poor sleep, irritability, anxiety, brain fog, lack of motivation, emotional numbness—while carrying everyone’s burdens, no one sees our own struggles.
Yet we keep going until our bodies decide otherwise. Healing doesn’t have to stem from crisis; we must intentionally carve out moments each week to reconnect with ourselves. Not more meetings, tasks, or responsibilities—just a deliberate pause. A moment to ask: How am I really doing? What burdens can I set down? What does my body need? What emotions am I pushing aside? Who takes care of me while I care for others?
The truth is, you cannot continually pour from a vessel that you refuse to refill. Professional success shouldn’t demand sacrificing yourself. We need professionals who are not only productive but also well enough to go home, be present with loved ones, enjoy life, and recognise themselves beyond work.
Maybe once a week, we should stop trying to control everything and simply give ourselves permission to heal.
When was the last time you intentionally took care of YOU?
Comments
No comments yet.