I. My Motivations

Along with self-care, another key task for the caregiver is maintaining a healthy balance in our motivations for helping others. Being in the position of giving help can create a power differential with the person receiving help. Even without knowing it, we may take advantage of the giver-receiver relationship to get our own needs met at the expense of the other person. Getting our natural desires met in healthy ways allows us to serve others freely.

As you watch the video about a volunteer wondering about her motivation, try to discern the underlying natural desire she had in that situation, and whether she was meeting that desire in a healthy or unhealthy way.