Episode 15 - Living for Yourself: Finding Balance Between Helping Others and Self-Care with Teresa Vesneske

By Jessica Garrison

Our friend, Teresa Vesneske, is back again for our latest season of The F.E.E.L Podcast. She was previously on season 4 episode 7 “Emotional Health & Physical Health Healing.” A lot has been happening in Teresa’s life, and we’re excited to host her for an update on her journey. Teresa is dedicated, adventurous, and empathetic.

While discussing the importance of taking care of our mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual health, Teresa shares her realization of how much she lived for others rather than herself. We’ve discussed in the past the impact it has for you to be the main character of your own life, just as you need to live your life for yourself instead of for others. Of course, especially as an empath, Teresa is still mindful of others and is still the same supportive woman she always was, but she has better boundaries now. Not only is she an empath, but she is in the educational field, which is constantly worrying about others over yourself. She’s had to learn how to balance the life she has at work and the life she has at home. Both are equally important, but it’s also important to not overextend yourself in one area of life. 

Teresa also shares how she has plenty to give to others after she gives to herself first. She is able to leave a stronger impression on the students she works with because she is taking care of herself first. It allows her to be more focused on work while she’s there because her mind is not clogged with random thoughts of everything she’ll have to do at home or everything she’ll have to do for others. This way, she is already taken care of, and this allows for more peace in our minds than we realize. 

Even with all of her accomplishments, Teresa’s story is far from over. She wants to be a guide/mentor for young teachers who are new to the field. She has so much knowledge and experience that she can now share it with others to help them find their own path. It’s admirable that she could retire and just leave everything at the door, but Teresa isn’t that type of person. As she said, she is dedicated and empathetic, so she wants everyone to have the best opportunity possible and the best chance for success. 

Teresa reminds us that it’s never too late. It’s never too late to start taking care of yourself, to do what you want to do, to fall in love with something new, or to start over. It doesn’t matter how old you are but rather how much work you’re willing to put in. At the end of the day, what truly matters is that you see the worth within yourself to live the life you desire and to stay healthy while doing it.

Ways to Engage: Think of ways you can make an impact in someone’s life, even if it’s small. Hold the door for someone, lend a listening ear, or offer guidance to someone who needs it. Kindness goes a long way.