Acknowledging Our Pain - Rescuing the Rescuer
Sometimes the motivation to help others may be an extension
of a
deep desire to heal a wounded part of ourself.
Some people seem called to
help others, often from very early on in their childhoods, responding to the
needs of family members, strangers, or animals with a selflessness that is
impressive. Often, these people appear to have very few needs of their own, and
the focus of their lives is on rescuing, helping, and healing others.
While
there are a few people who are truly able to sustain this completely giving
lifestyle, the vast majority has needs that lie beneath the surface, unmet and
often unseen. In these cases, their motivation to help others may be an
extension of a deep desire to heal a wounded part of themselves that is starving
for the kind of love and attention they dole out to those around them on a daily
basis. For any number of reasons, they are unable to give themselves the love
they need and so they give it to others. This does not mean that they are not
meant to be helping others, but it does mean that they would do well to turn
some of that helping energy within.
