The Case That Won’t Leave Their Mind
Lucía is a lawyer who manages outreach programs across Latin America, coordinating workshops for professionals working with vulnerable communities. Her work is meaningful, but one recent case has been difficult to shake. A partner organization asked her to follow through on a sensitive matter involving a family seeking protection, and the emotional weight has stayed with her.
Her coworkers admire her calmness, but privately, she has been waking up at night thinking about details she might have missed. Still, she shows up to meetings energized, pushing the team to move forward with upcoming trainings. Last week, during an internal session, someone asked how she handles emotional burdens. She gave a polished response, but inside she felt uneasy.
At home, her husband noticed she’s been quieter than usual. She said she’s fine, but she’s aware she’s carrying this case like a shadow. She knows she cannot fix everything, yet she feels responsible for giving families the best chance she can. A colleague recently told her, “You can’t pour from an empty cup,” but she’s not sure how to actually apply that.
Questions
What emotions do you think Lucía might not be expressing openly?
How does meaningful work sometimes create unexpected personal pressure?
What can influence someone’s ability to emotionally disconnect after work?
