Here at the Compassion Fatigue Awareness Project, we believe you can take control of your own well-being and create steps towards healing in your own life.

The following are 'Eight Laws' to help you create a healthier workplace for yourself, provide healthier care for others, promote healthier change in your life, and practice better self-care. Print them out and put them up where others can see. Make sure people are aware you are dedicated to positive change in your life by following these simple rules.

For a printable PDF version of the Eight Laws, click here.

The Eight Laws Governing A Healthy Workplace
The Eight Laws Governing Healthy Caregiving
The Eight Laws Governing Healthy Change
The Eight Laws Governing Self-Care

The Eight Laws Governing A Healthy Workplace:

#1   Employer provides a respite for staff following any traumatic event.

#2   Employer provides continuing education for staff.

#3   Employer provides acceptable benefits to aid staff in practicing beneficial self care.

#4   Employer provides management and staff with tools to accomplish their tasks.

#5   Employers direct management to monitor workloads.

#6   Employers provide positive, team-building activities to promote strong social relationships between colleagues.

#7   Employers encourage “open door” policies to promote good communication between workers.

#8   Employers have grief processes in place when traumatic events occur onsite.

The Eight Laws Governing Healthy Caregiving:

#1     Sustain Your Compassion

#2     Retain Healthy Skepticism

#3     Learn to Let Go

#4     Remain Optimistic

#5     Be the Solution

#6     Embrace Discernment

#7     Practice Sustainable Self Care

#8     Acknowledge Your Successes

The Eight Laws Governing Healthy Change:

#1  Take frequent breaks from what you are doing.

#2  Learn the word “no.” Use it whenever necessary.

#3  Share the load with others.

#4  There is humor in every situation. Find it and laugh.

#5  Recognize when you need help. Ask for it.

#6  Give yourself credit when credit is due.

#7  Give others credit when credit is due.

#8  Breathe deeply as often as possible.

The Eight Laws Governing Self-Care:

#1   By validating ourselves, we promote acceptance.

#2   By validating others, we elevate ourselves.

#3  By meeting our own mental, physical and emotional needs, we give care from a place of abundance, not scarcity.

#4   By practicing self-goodwill, we manifest it throughout our lives.

#5   By honoring past traumas and hurts, we allow ourselves freedom from the pain that controls us.

#6   By “doing the work,” we reclaim the personal power that is rightfully ours.

#7   By naming and taking ownership of the core issues that limit our growth, we create authenticity.

#8   By managing our self-care, we welcome happiness into our lives.