EMPOWERING STUDENT WELLNESS

SACRIFICIAL SERVICE

By Matt Edwards (Primary Chaplain) 

Towards the end of last year, I said that I would be writing an article about ‘sacrificial service’, so you can’t say that I didn’t warn you! Though I specifically stated that I would write about it because it is good for our kids (and us too.) So, how is it good for us? 

In regards to nurturing and developing good mental health, living sacrificially is described as being a ‘protective factor’. It is something that reduces the risk of having poor mental health and social problems. Sounds good! So why is it hard to do? 

Well, it is not about you and it is not for you.

Sacrificial service is about what is good for somebody else. Yet, it is done by you. Here is an example: There is a sense of serving the other person as you live in a committed relationship. A doing of things that are for the good of the other person at the cost of the doer. It could cost energy, time, money or personal fulfilment. In fact, these types of relationships struggle where this kind of sacrifice is not present. But, this way of living helps with the mental health of individuals, and in turn, the flourishing of generous communities.

Again, this is hard because sacrificial service does not fit with the common ideal that personal happiness is the greatest goal to seek for in life. So how do we get our kids on board with this? 

Model it to them. One of the major ways for our kids to gain this perspective, and implement it themselves, is to see it done well by others. I spoke to a colleague recently who said that their daughter had continued in the habit of serving others by her own choice, which was born out of a family habit that had been practiced for many years. This brings me to my next point:

Do it regularly. As I have said previously, this is where we can use routines to help create space for good habits in our kids lives.

Quietly encourage. Encouragement is great, but doing it quietly helps to reinforce the outward focus of sacrifice. It is not about them being publicly acknowledged, but somebody else being blessed.

Model it with gladness. If we are seen to be doing this willingly and cheerfully, this will be seen by them. It can be a joy to serve other people, and this helps put the focus rightly on other people.

HERE ARE SOME MORE USEFUL LINKS TO EXPLORE THIS WEEK

What Adolescents Need to Thrive

The 7 Habits of Highly Happy People.

WELLBEING RESOURCES

We know that it can sometimes be hard to find the necessary resources in relation to mental health, bullying and family violence, especially when things are tough. For this reason, the School has a small webpage with links related to health and wellbeing resources. This can be found on the School's website under Other Resources or can be found here.