Unveiling the Hidden Struggles and Radical Love Behind Carework: An Exclusive Interview with Jennifer Case
JC: Yes, I’m frustrated with the consumerism behind “self-care” and wary of how the term creates a dichotomy between ourselves and others. Buddhist teachers stress that anytime we think in stark differentiations—self versus others—we are deluded! In reality, we are always interconnected, and the moments we don’t see how our wellbeing is connected to others are the exact moments we are lost.
For myself, I’ve found it necessary to learn how to feel that in my body. When I’m overtaxed, or overwhelmed, and giving to others out of a sense of obligation, how does that feel in my body? When I experience burnout, how does that feel? On the other hand, how does it feel in my body to be calm, present, and have a strong sense of compassion for myself and for others? I’ve found that, as I learn to better recognize those differences, I can catch myself quicker when I move from the latter to the former, and interrupt it (by doing something that would essentially count as self-care: going on a walk, drinking water, stepping away and getting rest, etc.).
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