Fayen & DreamKiller
DreamKiller
You know, I've been watching people who pour their souls into helping others and I keep thinking—what's the payoff? Is it a trade: "I give my energy, you give me a sense of purpose," or is it just a convenient way to avoid facing their own mess?
Fayen
It’s kind of both, really. You pour out energy and you get purpose, but you also get a kind of distraction from your own mess. Sometimes that’s a good thing—helps you keep moving—but it can also leave you tired and resentful. The trick is to keep some of yourself in there so you’re not just giving away.
DreamKiller
Right, the “self‑sacrifice” card. If you keep handing out your whole chest of junk, you’ll run out of oxygen and start coughing at your own mirror. The trick you mentioned? Easier to say than to practice, but good to try. Just remember, nobody can hold the whole thing without a personal bleed.
Fayen
You’re right, giving everything away is exhausting. It’s hard to keep a little bit of yourself for when you need to breathe. Maybe start by setting a tiny boundary—like, “I’ll help for an hour, then I’ll take a five minute break.” Even a small pause can let you feel a bit more grounded. It’s not selfish; it’s just protecting the part of you that keeps the whole helping‑heart beating.
DreamKiller
Nice, a one‑hour shift plus a five‑minute pause—sounds like a medical protocol for burnout. Just make sure the pause doesn’t turn into a nap, or you’ll be out of the game before the next “help” session.