There are many things in life that can leave you feeling emotionally exhausted. These challenges may be connected to work, to personal matters or, as is often the case, to both.
Whack-a-mole stress
Perhaps you feel there is more work than time in your day. Perhaps you are navigating a difficult relationship that saps your time and energy, or you find yourself working outside your comfort zone. You may feel you have no work-life balance, or you perceive you are in a situation over which you have no control. You might also be stressed by unclear – or unrealistic — expectations of yourself or of your work.
Whatever the nature of the stress, Presbyterian Homes & Services (PHS) recognizes that employees face a myriad of challenges each and every day. Managing these stressors is essential.
Though we constantly seek to reduce work and personal stressors for employees, stress has a whack-a-mole quality: it just keeps popping up.
Resilience – the ability to bounce back
Helping employees build resilience – the ability to “bounce back” and thrive following challenges and difficulties – is a skill we seek to nurture at PHS. Part of the solution is “self-care,” helping employees take active steps to preserve and improve their health.
I closely follow the work of Dr. Bryan Sexton, director of the Duke Center for the Advancement of Well-being Science in Durham, N.C. Sexton says this: “Positive emotions help us develop resilience to burnout. The great news is that resilience and optimism can be learned.”
Sexton believes focusing on positive emotions, like joy, serenity, gratitude, inspiration, love, awe and amusement, builds resilience. He and his team advocate that we intentionally show kindness to others as a means of experiencing these attitude-altering emotions.
Random acts of kindness unleashed
I recently challenged PHS employees to do one random act of kindness every day for one week. Whether the act be big or small, immediately recognizable by the recipient or an unacknowledged act of care, I urged employees to connect with a variety of people in a variety of ways during the weeklong test.
I suggested that staff members try things like helping someone in need, assisting a colleague with a chore, paying a coworker or client an unexpected compliment. Other possibilities included donating food to a food shelter, or striking up a conversation with someone they did not yet know.
I believe these simple acts of kindness are tangible expressions of God’s love, and they can have a profound impact on both the giver and receiver.
Tracking the impact
I then asked employees to record each random act of kindness in a journal, describing in a sentence or two what they did and how it made them feel. Further, I asked that they review their “kindness journal” each evening and reflect on what they learned about themselves.
I’m only beginning to hear the anecdotes of employees who participated in this weeklong experiment. I do know, however, that research suggests that those who perform random acts of kindness are happier, have higher self-esteem, feel a greater sense of control over life and have improved interpersonal relationships. Not a bad dividend for a short exercise in kindness!
I am genuinely excited about the opportunities that PHS – and all employers – have in helping others become more resilient. Committing to and recording random acts of kindness is, in my opinion, an easy way to start focusing on the positive emotions in one’s life.
Becky Rauen serves as senior vice president and chief human resources officer for Presbyterian Homes & Services. She joined PHS in September 2023, and brings 25 years of experience in leading human resources in complex health care environments. She also currently serves as past president of the board of directors for the American Society for Healthcare Human Resources Administration. Becky says, “One of the main reasons I chose PHS is because of the organization’s focus on Christian culture and the centrality of the employee experience to the mission of PHS.”
To learn more about employment with PHS … visit: preshomes.org/careers
