“They need me.”

When your voice says:

“They need me, so I have to give everything.”

“Their need is my responsibility.”

Coach Lynn says:

A person can need support without needing all of you. Sustainable help considers what is appropriate, possible, and yours to give.

Then you say:

Here’s what I need to do:

• Settle my body with one or more Composure Breaths.
• Ask them directly: "What would help most right now?" Don't assume they need everything.
• Decide what I can keep giving without wearing myself out, such as one call a week or a ride to an appointment.
• For the rest, point them to other support such as another friend, a family member, a professional, or a community resource.

Coach Lynn says:

Support with limits is support that lasts. When you give what you can sustain and let others share the load, you keep showing up without burning out.