Articles

Burning Bright Without Burning Out
By Ada Porat

News reports remind us daily of the needs of vast populations around the globe, compelling us to do something about it, to make a difference in the world around us.

It is an innate human trait to help where and how we can. And yet, the needs of loved ones and friends can feel overwhelming at times.

How much should you do?

In responding to calls for help, how do you find balance between burning brightly and burning out? What puts you at risk for burning out, and how can you best prevent it?

Burnout can be described as a mismatch between an individual and their environment that causes long term distress. We are most at risk for burning out when there are mismatches between the reality of life as it is and our expectations around it. In other words, we can get so caught up in the process of doing that we lose sight of the big picture and forget why we got involved in the first place.

We may get so caught up on the process that we don’t make time for rest, regeneration and connection with our Higher Self and others. When this happens, we lose the delicate balance between external needs and our internal sense of purpose and identity. In our efforts to meet external needs, we neglect the most important need of all: the need to stay connected to our inner truth.

In burnout, we find joy smothered by the heaviness of negative emotions. Instead of enthusiasm, we start feeling powerless and lose our drive. And unless we realign with our core values, expectations, and support system, stress can reach levels that manifest as declined performance, physical ailments or conflict in relationships. Life appears unmanageable and our problems overwhelming.

If this description sounds familiar, don’t despair! It is not the circumstances that have changed to project gloom and doom, but the perceptions of the mind in burnout. It is important to recognize that you alone are responsible for giving too much for too long, resulting in this state. Now that you are aware of it, you can make new choices to rekindle the flame of passion for life!

When one’s life force energy burns brightly, life looks completely different. We find that our thoughts, emotions and actions flow easily from our alignment to a Higher purpose. We feel energized by the activities of life and are so engrossed in the moment that time literally flies by. We are filled with the positive attitude of “can-do” that leads to positive achievement. We are renewed by hope, dreams, confidence and faith – in short, we are in love with life! And because we move with the flow of life, we feel connected to everything around us.

How do we recover from burnout or better yet, become immune to its insidious effects? The answer can be captured in one word: realignment. Recovery from burnout requires that we look at where we strayed off the path of alignment to our innate rhythm and balance, so we can navigate our way back. Recovery requires of us to reconnect with three core areas: our values, expectations and support community.

Realign with your values

Take time out to clarify why you are so involved. Are you doing it from a place of guilt, duty or because others expect you to? If so, it is time to clarify what your own purpose and values are. True happiness and fulfillment come when we live in alignment with our core values, because our values drive our behaviors. When our actions are not in alignment with our core values, it leads to friction and stress. We often rationalize that we will take care of our own needs after we have met the needs around us, when in reality it should happen the other way round. We need to align with our values first; then we can reach from that place of personal strength to help others.

Realign your expectations

Are you involved because others expect it of you? Decide who is responsible here – you are not responsible for another’s life, choices, or lack of responsibility. Instead, you are responsible for your own life, including the choices you make. Let go of the illusion that you can control circumstances and outcomes. Know what is feasible for you to contribute and do those things; then let the others go! You are not responsible for everything, so let go and let God. By letting go of unrealistic expectations, you conserve your energy and power to focus on what you can do.

Realign to your support system

People and activities that allow us to simply be, have great restorative value. It is important to stay connected with people who know you well. They can give support and encouragement when you are running on empty, or serve as a neutral sounding board at the end of a rough day. Plan time to reconnect with your inner child and leave the cares of adulthood behind for a time of carefree play. Go for long walks and reconnect with the restorative power of nature. Take time to enjoy the simple pleasures of life: eat, laugh and dance. Let the rhythm of simple activities restore your soul. Take time out to nurture your soul through prayer, meditation or contemplation. Banish negative self-talk from your life. Instead, engage in positive self-talk and affirmation of your abilities.

When you take time to renew yourself in these three areas, you will find yourself better able to live in the moment. Your light will shine brightly to bring hope, laughter and comfort to others. And in the process, let that radiance splash all over you as well!

©Copyright Ada Porat. For more information, visit www.adaporat.com
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