Success in supporting seriously ill people comes with knowing your strengths, limitations, and when to seek help. When you want to effectively support someone who's living or dying with a serious illness, it's important to ask for and receive kindness and support for yourself from your family, friends, and healers. When you do this, you will have more energy to give and you will be more grounded in remembering that energy is available to help.

When you feel unsure or like you are getting “in over your head,” I encourage you to talk things over with:

• people in your own faith group
• a mentor or colleague you trust
• a social worker, counselor, or shaman
• your best additional support networks

The following are my top recommendations for asking for and receiving kindness and support for yourself and others.