Attending to our bodies, bank accounts and sleep patterns
Ministry can mean we are sedentary for a lot of the time. Moving about needs to be a decision. But strength is not just physical, it encompasses our finances, sleep, diet, resilience and determination. Strength slowly builds through repetitive discipline, whatever kind of strength that may be.
When we are strong we are more alert, vital, able to manage our emotions, sustain concentration, think creatively and stay committed.
Although we can’t always choose what happens to us, we can often choose our own response to what happens – but that’s hard to do unless we are feeling strong.
I can do all things through God who strengthens me.
~ Philippians 4:13
Make active choices to ensure you are flourishing in this strength space
- Find an exercise that suits you. You may end up raising your self-esteem
- Find a friend where you can support one another to make good food choices
- Pay attention to how you are sleeping – is it enough?
- Get help with your tax return
- Know what is going on in your bank account and make active decisions about your giving, which helps others and is proven to be key to your wellbeing
Something to read
Fitness advice for wheelchair users
Something to watch or listen to
Why exercise matters, British Heart Foundation
Red flags
If you are spending a lot of time doing an activity you don’t enjoy, stop!
Find something you love, and it won’t feel like another item on the to do list
Story: Attending to strength
I ran a lot as a kid and loved it – the feeling of freedom and flying. Then I got busy and didn’t make space for it. The thing that got me back was a neighbour inviting me to run with her, which I justified because it was pastoral! I soon realised the benefit to my whole life; when I am physically strong, I am all round strong.
~ Self-supporting priest
Professional Coaching
For more complex circumstances or situations
This is part of the Ministry support framework. Read more →
What Professional coaching is, and what it is not
Professional coaching will be delivered by a qualified [or someone in the latter stages of becoming qualified] coach. They will create space for deep thinking through asking excellent questions. To be effective, trust and confidence needs to be established. This process allows the person being coached to find the answers within themselves. If it is felt that a situation is too complex after 1:1 facilitation, this may be the next step.
It is not directive or long term. The coach will not be an expert in your situation.
Meetings
- The first meeting is a maximum of 1.5 hours allowing half an hour to discuss the process, the way you want to work, and looking through the agreement, and the intervals between sessions and 1 hour for coaching
- A further two sessions of 1 hour maximum followed by a review
- The coaching may continue for a further three sessions ending with a review
Practicalities
- Those receiving coaching would ordinarily travel to the coach, unless they specify another location
- Alternatively, it may be agreed that sessions happen online
- The Diocese will ensure that coaches are appropriately trained, insured and in supervision themselves
- The cost of this will be split three ways between the Mission and Ministry department, the PCC of, and the person receiving the coaching
