Take Care of Yourself

We may hear a lot about how we take care of ourselves, but mostly in the context of “How will I pamper myself? What can I do today to treat me?” I am not suggesting there are not needed times of caring for your physical or mental well-being. But taking care of yourself means something a little different.

In Kansas Leadership Center language, it comes under that category of managing yourself. Taking notice of when you are tired, irritable, working too much. When your stress level is high and just keeps climbing. Our bodies often tell us when it is too much; they give up long before we do.

This competency may be one of the hardest ones. If we are going to take care of ourselves, then we must know ourselves. We have to know our triggers, our strengths, our vulnerabilities. We have to know what others are saying about us. We have to get used to uncertainty and conflict. None of these things listed are things that we like.

It seems fitting that this is the last adaptive leadership competency that I am writing on in my last weeks here at Hesston Mennonite. This has been an enjoyable series to write for, because my learnings from the Kansas Leadership Center have been valuable to me in the 4 years I have been engaging their programs.

Most importantly I wish for Hesston Mennonite members to take care of yourselves. Not in the pampering, superficial ways that can be engaged. I mean to take care of yourselves in a way that promotes a better understanding of who you are and who you want to be. Take the time to learn what triggers the congregation and leads to distress behaviors, to know what others in the congregation are saying about the heart of Hesston Mennonite, and to work on the skill of getting used to uncertainty and conflict.

There is much to be said for self-discovery and this congregation is capable of that. It will only strengthen the witness of Jesus being active among you. My continued hope for all of you is for more growth. Growth into your relationship with Jesus and with one another so that the Kingdom come may flourish here.

--Amy Nissley Stauffer