Holding Space for Others – and Yourself
by Nanci Bradley
Around the world, more and more people are stepping into roles centered on service—whether as nurses, doctors, holistic practitioners, parents, or countless other paths. In answering the call to support others, many are also discovering new parts of themselves: compassion, resilience, and a deep sense of purpose.
But with this calling comes a challenge: how do we balance our deep drive to uplift others with the equally important need to care for ourselves?
For those who love to serve, support and empower those around them, finding that balance can sometimes be the hardest part of all.
Checking In with Yourself
The first step is simple, but not always easy: pause and check in.
Are you living in a way that feels balanced to you? Are you offering your energy freely, or does it sometimes feel pulled from you by guilt, habit, or resentment?
This is a very personal question, and what balance looks like will differ for everyone. It may even change for you throughout different seasons of your life.
I invite you to ask yourself questions like:
- Am I physically, mentally or emotionally exhausted more than 80% of the time?
- Do I have any ways of building up my own energy for my work?
- Am I beginning to resent the people I am serving and supporting?
- Have I completely burnt out and feel disconnected from my role, even though it used to feel like my purpose?
By answering these questions, you can begin to build a picture of whether your life feels balanced to you, and how much may need to change in order to bring it back into balance.
How to Begin?
If you recognize that your life is draining more from you than it’s giving back, something needs to shift. But what needs to change—and how big that change needs to be—depends on where you are in your own journey.
This will depend on the degree of exhaustion you are feeling at the moment, in your current lifestyle. If it is mild, maybe you just need to introduce a few new self care practices.
But if it is getting to an extreme point of burnout and exhaustion, it may need more extreme changes.
Here’s a foundation to help you start imagining ways to rebuild your energy:
- Try meditation, even just a few minutes a day.
- Spend quiet time—whether that’s soaking in a bath, sitting on the porch, or lying on your bed with no agenda.
- Revisit old favorite TV shows or movies that bring you comfort.
- Take cleansing baths or showers, allowing the stress to wash away.
- Schedule no-technology breaks to give your mind breathing room.
- Spend time in nature.
- Make time for friends who build you up and boost your energy.
- Gradually distance yourself from relationships that consistently drain you.
- Set clear, kind boundaries with family and friends to protect your time and energy.
- Delegate tasks—whether at work, at home, or in caregiving roles—so you’re not carrying the load alone.
Choose a few that resonate most with you and start there. Little shifts in lifestyle can quickly add up.
Setting Boundaries
If you’re already feeling extreme exhaustion or complete burnout, it may be time to look at your boundaries more seriously.
Resetting boundaries can feel uncomfortable—especially if you’re used to being the dependable one, the one who says “yes.” But it doesn’t have to be overwhelming or confrontational. Small, consistent changes can be incredibly powerful.
Here are a few examples of people who are starting to reset their boundaries, from gentle steps to bigger shifts:
- Letting people know they will be turning their phone off for 30 minutes to do daily movement practice, when usually they would drop anything if someone called
- Delegating tasks needed for an elderly parent to other siblings, when they are usually the person who handles everything themselves.
- Having a compassionate conversation with a friend whose behavior leaves them feeling drained, and explore how they might reshape the dynamic together.
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach.
Ask yourself honestly: What do I have the energy to change right now? What might need to be transformed later, when I’m stronger?
The key is not to rush and not to judge yourself.
Remember: even small shifts in your boundaries can ripple out into big changes in how you feel.
Conclusion
Serving others is a beautiful gift—but you do not have a bottomless well of energy.
By taking the time to care for yourself with the same devotion you offer to others, you create a stronger, more sustainable foundation to continue sharing your light with the world.
Begin your journey today!
Send me a message, I would love to hear from you.
Email Address
limitlessholistictherapy@gmail.com
Call Me
0411 286 259
Visit Me (by appointment only)
Suite 3, Level 1, 754 Old Princes Hwy, Sutherland, NSW 2232