Beliefs, Balance, and Burnout!
As women in the marketplace, preventing burnout is an important consideration if we want to be effective servants of Christ. When we think of managing the stress of our daily demands, we often envision a cup in our mind. The balance between what flows into and out of the cup plays a part in determining the effectiveness and enjoyment of our work.
In the world of wellness, we focus our attention on encouraging people to fill the cup. Energy is a limited resource, so it is important to consistently make small daily investments in our health. As a wellness coach, I heartily encourage that!
But both personally and professionally, I’ve found that managing the outpour from the cup is equally important and far more difficult.
What are some of the hindrances that make it difficult for us to moderate the outflow of energy in our lives?
As much as we want to blame outside circumstances, burnout is often a result of unchecked beliefs in our hearts.
Consider the following beliefs and behaviors that may be in play when we find ourselves out of balance.
People Pleasing
Question: Am I exhausted because I believe I need to meet other’s expectations and I fear the fallout of not satisfying someone’s need or request? Are my daily decisions about how I use my energy being directed by Christ or by someone else?
Truth: As Christ lived day by day fulfilling God’s purpose for his life, making some people unhappy was a natural result. It is possible to serve someone yet not satisfy them because, above all else, we are serving Christ. Read Galatians 1:10
Possessiveness
Question: Am I exhausted because, while carrying a heavy load, I am unwilling to share some territory or support the development of someone else?
Truth: Fulfilling our God-given assignment is not dependent on us protecting our position or popularity. Is my definition of success based on worldly or Godly values? Read 1 Corinthians 3:5-9
Pride
Question: Am I exhausted because I believe I am indispensable and invincible? Have I blinded myself to my own limitations?
Truth: Today, we are one part of the body of Christ at one given moment in time. Throughout history, Christ has accomplished His work through His people by directing us to complement, cooperate, and compensate for each other. Am I being a lone ranger or a team player? Read 1 Corinthians 12:18-22
Impatience
Question: Am I exhausted because I am running hard to reach my goals, unable to slow down to celebrate my small wins and accept and share what I am learning in the process?
Truth: Achieving our goals often brings us only short-term satisfaction. The lessons we learn along the way build character and have lasting value. Am I willing to relinquish my timeline and let God fulfill His purposes in His timeline, even if it means taking the long way? Read Exodus 13:17
Are you feeling out of balance and on the brink of burnout today?
Many times, the circumstances we find ourselves in are, in part, based on how we live out what we believe. Take some time to reflect on how some of your unchecked beliefs may be contributing to the unbalanced flow of energy in your life today.
Ginger Hill is the founder of Good Health for Good Works where she combines her professional expertise with biblical principles and spiritual resources to help Christians take steps towards healthier living so they can serve with energy, excellence, and endurance. Ginger is a wellness professional with over 20 years of experience in the corporate wellness industry as an employee/executive health coach, wellness speaker/educator and wellness program manager/consultant.
Ginger is a committed follower of Christ who seeks to apply biblical principles to every area of life, including helping people to improve their health! Ginger has been married to her husband, Bob, for over 30 years and they enjoy and are proud of their young adult children. Ginger resides in the Chicago Metro area and enjoys Jazzercise, Pilates, cycling, mosaics, scrapbooking, cooking, and sometimes gardening.