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This Side of Burnout

December 17, 2011 By Sue Miley

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It’s been a long time.  Maybe 10 years.  I actually worked 9 hours yesterday and still met each person with enthusiasm, energy and anticipation of our time together. I realized after my nine clients hours that I still had energy to cook dinner and spend time lingering in conversation with my husband.

I have been feeling this sense of renewal for a bit now.

This morning I deemed this season in life “this side of burnout”.  The time where it fades into the horizon with the sunset.  Still the anticipation of it’s return with the new day hovered.  Instead, grace brought a beautiful sunrise sprinkled with energy and hope; hope that the lethargy and apathy of burnout are gone forever.

It isn’t black and white though.

Burnout isn’t something that just hits you.  It’s an invasive enemy.  It seduces and lures you in.  You’re devoted to your career, working hard and doing it all.  You feel accomplished and needed.  But, over time you wonder why you’re the only one still at the office.  You begin to realize that all the emergencies make their way to you.  The flattery falls flat as each compliment ends with the sting of a last minute assignment dropped in your lap.

But the American way tells you that you’re doing it all.  I was working hard, making money, achieving corporate objectives.  My family was in tact.  They didn’t need me much.

Until one day they did.

And then I could no longer juggle the 60+ hours a week, the 24/7 on call status, and take care of a health crisis in my family.  Add to that the fact I didn’t have faith nor take care of my health.

Next stop….full-fledged burnout.  It snuck up on me.  I didn’t realize I had depleted all of my emotional, spiritual and physical reserves.  I started craving a way out.  An escape.

My lifeline turned out to be finding Jesus.

But He didn’t absolve me of my burnout.  It was a consequence of my decisions, and besides, He knew I needed the rest and  priority change.  It took me a full decade of focus on Him.  It wasn’t something I could just check off a list.

  • Found Jesus. Check.
  • Profound Healing. Check.
  • Back to work!  Check.

No…it doesn’t work like that.  I am a licensed therapist now, but this isn’t a clinical explanation of burnout.  It’s just a testimony.

Life doesn’t go on hold in recovery.  Much has happened in the last 10 years.  A check list couldn’t do it justice.  It wasn’t an action plan to heal.  It was a journey to grow.  It was finding God’s will for my life.  It was letting go of control and trusting that God is the one in control.

  • I had to let go of my timelines.
  • I began to see myself through a God lens.
  • I focused on relationships instead of accomplishments.

And even recently,I continue to learn that life, eternal life, is not about a claim to Christianity…

….it isn’t about works,

….a church building,

….a marketing plan, or

….raising great kids.

It’s being on the path that God has for me, and doing my part for once, to keep my priorities on my health, my relationships, and sincerely trying to honor God.

Burnout was insidious in it’s pursuit to claim me.  Unraveling from it’s tentacles to continue on the new path that God paved is difficult.

But one day….

…. the sun set,

…. taking the wake of burnout with it,

…..and leaving it in yesterday.

A new day dawns….a new season begins….and soon we can embrace “this side of burnout”.

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Filed Under: Career Tagged With: burnout, direction, work

About Sue Miley

Sue earned her undergraduate degree in Finance at Louisiana State University in 1986. In 1993 she completed her Masters in Business Administration with a focus on Marketing. In 2004, she earned a Masters in Education – Community Counseling.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Linda Hoye says

    December 28, 2011 at 10:20 am

    I “happened” to come across this post today and it spoke so clearly to me. Just wanted to thank you for sharing it.

    Linda

    • suemiley says

      December 28, 2011 at 1:54 pm

      Thanks Linda…I hope others can get something from my experience….maybe without having to go through it all!

  2. Jay hart says

    January 8, 2012 at 8:59 am

    So glad that I found your site on networked blogs. Your articles seem interesting.n I cant wait to get some time to read,mlearn and get ministered to. I just started a blog myself. I a,m looking to network and learn from others counselors.

    • suemiley says

      January 8, 2012 at 9:10 am

      Thanks for visiting Jay. I am also a business coach and have a heart for helping Counselors. We hope to launch a new site http://www.christiancounselorscoach.com which will have some great resources. Check it out in February…it should be up.

  3. Paul Bouchillon says

    January 29, 2012 at 4:27 pm

    This was an answer to a prayer, I prayed while riding down the road…I have been thru drug recovery..one of the issue that fueled my addiction was the thought that those who work hard, do the right things etc…”good things” occur…only to work myself to death, at the expense of rest and family time(something that had contributed to my addiction in the past)..I cried out for God to cause me to listen(Psalm 46:10). I had become burned out and angry….I have an interview for another job. It may not pay as much but I will covet prayers to help me with discernment, courage and surrender.

    • suemiley says

      January 29, 2012 at 4:59 pm

      Hi Paul, I will be praying for your interview. I will pray that if it is God’s will you will know it. I will also pray for God’s healing for you. I learned the hard way that no job is worth your health. If it is of God, it may be hard and tiring, but at the same time He faithfully renews your energy. When my energy was just being zapped with no renewal, I realized it was me doing the holding on. God bless! Sue

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