Would you hire yourself as the security guard for your own well-being?
In a world of career changes and upskilling, I encourage us all to add the role of Security Guard to our personal résumés.
A quick search of top requirements for great security guards revealed commonalities such as
- Observation skills
- Communication skills
- Fitness
- Team Player
What if we pledge to become our own security guards, fiercely committed to protecting our energy and mental wellness?
To hone observation skills, we prioritize vigilance. We stay alert, not paranoid, and scan for risks to our well-being, external or self-imposed. We thoughtfully discern the severity of any irregularities and respond accordingly. Is there a meeting coming up where one participant consistently disregards our input? We commit to putting distance between that stimulus and our response, thus decreasing the impact of the trigger. How about that one friend who always talks but never listens? Maybe we pass on the next suggestion to get together. Did we stay up too late watching Black Mirror? We acknowledge the impact that choice has on our mood and plan a restorative break.
To embolden our communication skills, we become masters of awareness and assertiveness. While respecting ourselves and others, we speak up to set boundaries and speak up again if they’re ignored. We commit to practicing empathy. We know when and how to de-escalate situations that throw us off balance. We pair mindfulness with kindness and choose the best communication we are capable of, especially in tricky situations. We are kindful.
To escalate our physical fitness levels, we honor our need for sleep, nutrition, and movement. We create evening rituals that get us to bed on time and limit screen time. We feed our bodies well (pass the blueberries, kefir, and leafy greens, please!) and say no thank you more often to sugar and alcohol. We say yes to movement that makes us smile, whether that be lifting, running, skipping, or twirling. We catapult the quality of our mental fitness by nourishing our minds with meditation and positive inputs like podcasts and music. We guard against negative inputs like mindless scrolling and needless social media comparisons. Our inner bouncer never lets our inner critic seize the microphone. We passionately protect our fabulous selves.
Finally, though security guards appear to work alone, they are always part of a bigger team. We enhance our team player skills by surrounding ourselves with good people who also protect their well-being. We nurture these relationships, playing the roles of teacher and student as needed—their wellness matters to us. We listen to them when they notice we are off track, and we offer to sub when they can’t fill their own shift. We thrive together in a community of compassionate, kind people.
Would you hire yourself as a security guard for your own well-being?
I might still be an apprentice, but I am on my way to getting the job.
Join me? ☀️