We all want to be a force for good in the world. And we all sometimes feel discouraged in our efforts to do so. How do we keep going when personal trials or distressing world news threaten to overwhelm us?
As the director of humanitarian services for the Church, Sharon Eubank knows a thing or two about overwhelming news. On a recent episode of the Magnify podcast, she shares what helps her keep going.
What Helps Sharon Eubank Keep Going
She describes some of the difficult things she's seen and experienced during her humanitarian work as “shrapnel.”
“You have these experiences and they kind of get under your skin, and you think you’re OK. And then all of a sudden it goes off,” she says.
So how does she handle this shrapnel? Sharon strives to heed advice she was given early in her career: take time to care for and replenish yourself. For Sharon this looks like taking regular holidays, spending time with family, being out in nature, and following her hobbies.
While taking time to replenish does sound simple, Sharon acknowledges it isn’t always easy to do.
“I always feel guilty about doing something that is replenishing to me,” she says. “I don’t know why I feel guilty about it. There’s no reason to feel guilty about that, but I do. It’s as if we [think we] should go and just give and give and give and give and never take back in. [But] nothing works that way. Cars don’t work that way. People don’t work that way. I try really hard not to feel guilty about the replenishing that I have to do. “
Sharon went on to point out that we don’t feel guilty for charging our phones or putting gas in our cars. So neither should we feel guilty about recharging or refueling ourselves.
Listen to the full Magnify episode with Sharon Eubank wherever you get your podcasts or in the player below.
President Holland’s Advice on Self-Care
In 2021, President Jeffrey R. Holland offered similar counsel about caring for ourselves. A previous LDS Living article reports that he was asked by a student how to care for one’s mental and emotional well-being when there are so many opportunities and so much to accomplish.
President Holland responded that there are always more demands on our time than the clock provides for. He said that his time in graduate school was one of the most demanding on him as he didn’t have much money, but did have two little children, was teaching half-time, going to school full-time, and holding a major position in the Church.
“What I learned is that before I thought about the Church service, before I thought about my education and the classes I was in, even before I was trying to be a good husband and father, I had to take care of my own spiritual and physical health.” Elder Holland said. “I had to have something in the tank.”
President Holland said he decided it wasn’t selfish to do a few basic things, like eating right, getting in a little exercise, and being spiritually in tune, that enabled him to be a better spouse, father, and student. He said taking the time to pray instead of hurrying out the door can make the difference in a day.
“A little personal attention in the midst of all of the other external demands, for me, has been a key for the nearly 50 years since then, and I still try to practice that,” President Holland said.
“You can’t spend a lot of time, but the quality of what you do can be high in terms of your own spiritual and emotional and physical renewal. Then do the best you can with some of the other things and some of the things might have to wait. We might have to say, ‘Can’t do that today, we’ll do that tomorrow.’”
Learn more about the importance of rest and replenishing in the links below:
▶ ‘How do you avoid getting overwhelmed?’ Sharon Eubank’s brilliant and simple answer
▶ The most productive thing you can do for your testimony is also the simplest
▶ How to stop feeling exhausted and find spiritual rest, according to President Nelson
▶ Expert tips for enjoying spiritual stillness—no matter what’s on your plate
