Serving Without Burning Out

Confronted with recent world events—both globally and close to home—I’ve been thinking a lot about what it means to thrive in times like these. How do we stay engaged in the face of injustice while protecting our peace of mind? How much news can we absorb before we’re paralyzed by helplessness? What actions actually help soften that helplessness? And how do we add those to the already long list of things we’re told we need to do to stay well and whole?

I know I can’t help from an empty cup.

I feel privileged enough not to look away. And feeling the pain of what’s happening is, in its own small way, something I can do. I let it in because it preserves my humanity—and honors the humanity of those who are suffering. When I witness pain that is too big to comprehend, I turn inward and let myself feel the deep, aching sadness of it. Even if I only pause for a minute or two, I won’t step over it. I don’t just carry on with my day.

In this way, I preserve my sanity. And I pray for the sanity of the world.

I was raised in the Sikh faith, which places deep emphasis on seva. Seva—meaning service—is the belief that we are inextricably linked to the collective. If you are unwell, I am unwell. It sees the world through the lens of Ik Onkar: all is one. To be a whole human in this world, we must act in service of collective well-being.

Since I was a little girl, seva has been part of who I am. I’ve always tried to help where I can. I’ve paid attention to people’s needs, reached out, protested, volunteered. I’ve cooked for those going through hard times. I’ve coached, I’ve listened. I’ve brought people together to fill voids of disconnection in my communities. My work with Groundwork is a core practice of seva for me.

In The Light We Give, Simran Jeet Singh names something I’ve been wrestling with for years. He answers the question: How do we stay truly engaged in a productive, effective way in the face of injustice? I had to share this with you—what he calls “performance outrage.” He writes:

“Here’s what I know: When our activism is without creativity, and when our outrage is not grounded in true love and connection with those in need, our actions will inevitably be short-lived. It either becomes toxic and vengeful, destroying everything in its path, or it simply burns itself out until the next incident of injustice manages to gain public attention.”

And then:

“Performance outrage is ineffective, delusional, and maddening. Ineffective, because it does not inspire meaningful action or change; delusional because we trick ourselves into thinking we are caring and compassionate even though it’s superficial; and maddening, because it offers no nutrition for our souls.”

Finally, with crystal clarity:

“The primary outcome of seva as a way of life is perhaps the most valuable one for the modern age: the ability to stay engaged with the world—even when confronted with injustice—without self-defeating rage and without sacrificing one’s inner peace and happiness.”

This lands deeply for me. I believe Groundwork is the tool kit we need to live out our seva—to feel, to stay engaged, and to cultivate peace of mind in an increasingly chaotic, hyper-stimulated world.

My own roots in the practice of seva shaped me so profoundly that they planted the seeds for what would one day become the Groundwork framework. It’s what gave me the insight and the tools to stay present, act meaningfully, and keep my heart open in the face of overwhelming pain.

I hope Groundwork is serving you in that way—and helping you serve others.