005: How to Self-Care— Recovery Leaders and Helpers with Jolie Wills

“One of the beautiful things disasters have to teach us is how to not just offer support, but receive it.” —Jolie Wills

Episode Description: 

Emergent leaders and frontliners are akin to shock absorbers in a car. They absorb a heavy load of impact, cushioning the rest of the community. These individuals, by virtue of their roles, are at the frontlines of disaster response, spearheading the recovery efforts and acting as the life rope for those affected. But, even the sturdiest of shock absorbers can break under sustained pressure from constant exposure to distress, trauma, and physical and emotional burnout. 

In this episode, Jennifer interviews Jolie Wills, the CEO of Hummingly, an organization that provides practical tools and resources, all gathered from real disaster and crisis situations, to help individuals and organizations around the world navigate the toughest of times.

Listen in as Jennifer and Jolie explore the gap in providing help to our front liners, what leaders can do to help their team, and how leaders can care for themselves as well. They also share how community members can show respect for each other’s decisions, how to overcome the self-imposed guilt of prioritizing self-care, and how to manage secondary stress. 

Connect with After The Fire USA: 

Website: https://afterthefireusa.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RebuildNorthBay/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AfterTheFireUSA

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afterthefireusa/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/atf3r

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuTefxZgWUJkDVoZGZQpxgQ

Highlights:

05:19 The Mission of Hummingway 

17:59 The Gap in Helping The Helpers  

25:46 How to Support Leaders 

37:28 How to Self-Care: Recovery Leaders 

45:01 It’s Hard Because It’s Hard

52:30 The Burden of Guilt

01:01:56 Managing Secondary Stress