Self-Care: The Need and A Model

Applicable Self-Care Strategies

Numerous resources are available in the area of self-care for civilian pastors. Two models give particular help in this area. One book of great value is entitled, “Rest in the Storm: Self-Care Strategies for Clergy and Other Caregivers” by Dr. Kirk Jones. Dr. Jones offered three basic strategies for slowing down. First, he advised leisure time, suggesting to, “Go to the back of the boat” (a reference to Matthew 8:24-27). Second, he advised, move at your own pace: a slow, deliberate, mindful, and “sacred pace” (also a reference to Matthew 8: 24-27 and to John 11:6). Dr. Jones referred to Jesus’ refusal to rush, even when the world around him imposed a sense of urgency: sometimes, Jesus waited. “In the waiting,” Dr. Jones said, “the truth comes; as agonizing as waiting can be, deeper truth comes.” He also urged his readers to take time to notice more, listen more, and think more deeply. “Practice the pause,” he said. Third, he stated, be still: Learn to cultivate stillness. Jesus (Matthew 8: 24-27) challenged the storm to stop itself. “We are,” Dr. Jones suggested, “walking storms,” and he added, we must claim the power to be still.

Another book entitled, “You Don’t Have To Go Home From Work Exhausted” by Ann McGee-Cooper gives another model. Mrs. McGee-Cooper writes about burnout symptoms and mentions, “A vital key is to realize that burnout is not something that happens only once in a lifetime.” She mentions that burnout is the result of living out of balance. She identifies three profiles that lead to burnout-perfectionism, “fast-lane” living, and the superhuman syndrome. Mrs. McGee-Cooper describes a perfectionist as one who performs all tasks equally meticulously well. She goes on to illustrate “fast-lane” living by using the Indianapolis (Indy) 500 analogy. The Indy 500 is a major race car competition in the United States where competitive race cars travel 500 miles full throttle at top speeds. Many times people run their lives at top speeds with minimal pit stops versus a full overhaul. Lastly, Mrs. McGee-Cooper describes the superhuman syndrome. “The most basic underlying compulsion for superhumans is to be all things to all people.”

Mrs. McGee-Cooper lists twelve cures for burnout: proper rest, eating for high performance and peak energy, daily fun “nonstressed” aerobic exercise, time alone, time to read and learn, spiritual growth, intimacy and love, fun-joy-play, quality time with family and friends, new hobbies and old hobbies, regular and frequent vacations, and sense of purpose.

The U.S. Army Chaplain Corps and the endorsing agents have identified the need for spiritual betterment. The chaplain must determine for themselves what self-care looks like. Even with the self-care guideline from the ecclesiastical endorsing agents and the Chief of Chaplains each chaplain will still struggle and face opposition when trying to conduct self-care. The main reason for this struggle is due to the nature of the environment the chaplain ministers in. The military offers unique struggles and present unique enemies to self-care. Conducting self-care is not impossible, but it will take being innovative to meet the need for the chaplain as he or she ministers in the unique military environment. Being vigilant with self-care is not impossible, but developing it will take intentionality. The chaplain must improvise, adapt and overcome their opposing circumstances to maintain wholeness in order to minister to their flock.