Do you have compassion fatigue? Are you tired of living through firsts? Are you tired of trying to divide your care for major life or world events? Does it feel like your friend network is facing one natural disaster after another? You might have compassion fatigue!
Compassion fatigue is defined as the emotional and physical exhaustion that leads to a diminished ability to empathize with others.
This is typically experienced by health care professionals, social workers, emergency responders and other caregiving roles. However, everyone can experience compassion fatigue.
In the chaos of 2020, people experienced not only hardships in their home lives, but also the emotional drain of living through a worldwide pandemic. During this time, we also saw a rise in the racial justice movements following George Floyd’s death. It was an unprecedented time.
If you’ve been around for the last 30 years, “unprecedented times” might feel like the story of your life. From the demise of the Oxford comma and Pluto’s planetary status to heightened airport security post-9/11, COVID-19, relentless natural disasters and a deepening sense of polarization in contemporary politics, it’s understandable that many now approach the news with caution.
Developing compassion fatigue is to be expected living through so many first-time events. You may find yourself experiencing an emotional numbness or becoming desensitized to other’s experiences and hurt. Processing compassion fatigue can be particularly challenging for Christians like us who hold compassion and empathy as core values. Jesus called us to love and care for others and did so without bounds. Jesus looked after the suffering and marginalized people.
It is incredibly easy to feel overwhelmed with the call to love when you are experiencing an inadequate feeling to care for others or even yourself. So what can we do? How can we divert our care to so many issues in the world that need the love of Jesus? Is it possible to overcome compassion fatigue?
Throughout the election year, I have certainly found myself struggling with compassion fatigue. Family and friends are tugging at all sides with opinions. The amount of information to keep up with, along with the fear-mongering that the internet is so good at, feels insurmountably overwhelming at times.
I have done myself the small service of taking a step back. Not just realizing that God is in control and coming soon, but that I can limit and alter my media consumption. Not only have I decided to limit my media usage, but I have also changed my algorithm to reflect more positive light-hearted content creators. This is just one example of something you can do for yourself!
It's superlative that we use Jesus as an example not only for caring for and loving people, but also as someone who sets aside time to be with God in prayer. Compassion fatigue can be a very isolating feeling, but you are certainly not alone. You have friends, family and a church community all trying to figure this life out together. We are all experiencing this life for the first time, but we can rest assured that God knows our hearts and is always there for us.
Things that Jesus did that we can implement to relieve compassion fatigue:
- Prioritize self-care: Set aside time for rest to recharge physically and emotionally.
- Lean on God’s grace: Trust that God’s grace is sufficient, even if you feel weak (2 Cor. 12:9).
- Seek support: Talk with a pastor, counselor or friend.
- Engage in acts of kindness: Focus on the joy you can manageably bring this week.
Remember 1 Cor. 13:12, “For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.”
Though we may not have the answer to everything right now, we can focus on the promises of the Bible and the example of Jesus. Soak in the love and grace given to us freely. Bask in it! Then go out and “let your light shine … that they may see your good deeds and glorify your God in Heaven” (Matt. 5:16).
