A Devotion for Burning Bright Not Out
To start this week, I’m going to ask you to do a little reading:
https://thriveglobal.com/stories/13-surprising-signs-of-burnout-you-may-be-missing/
Do any of these sound familiar?
I have just returned from a clergy conference on the subjects of Personal Growth and Self Care. When this article was shared, the surprise in the room was palpable.
We were all mostly familiar with the well-known symptoms of burn-out: tiredness, frustration, stress, anxiety, etc.
But this list included symptoms I had never connected with burnout: exhaustion even after a good night’s sleep, making careless mistakes, and unexplained pain.
For me, this list made me aware of times that I was experiencing burnout and hadn’t realized it. The time in college where I was consistently tired? (probably due to strained family relationships and studying for the LSAT). The full set of glasses I broke in the 3 months after my son was born? (definitely due to lack of sleep and exhaustion). The recurring shoulder pain when I was working at the hospital? (most likely associated with the emotional and spiritual heaviness I was experiencing on a daily basis).
Did any of these resonate with you? If so, there is no shame, no judgment; only grace.
Think of these symptoms as signs, signals that something is awry in your body or work or life. Like a fever when your body is fighting off an infection, we can’t just correct the symptom itself, we must look deeper at why these symptoms of burnout are occurring. What needs to change to get back to a place of health?
Thankfully at this conference, we also discussed ways to address the burnout that these symptoms can signify.
Specifically, we talked about ways to care for our Bodies, Minds, and Spirits.
Here are a few suggestions:
1. Body
3. Spiritual
Of course this is not an exhaustive list. Each of us will have particular, unique ways that we recharge and stay grounded and healthy.
We do these practices not just for our own care (though that is incredibly important). We also care for ourselves, so we can care better for others.
Our recovery work can and will burn us out, if we let it.
But if we maintain practices that preserve our whole selves, we will not burn out, but burn bright for God.
I think of the section in Romans chapter 12 that says:
“Never let the fire in your heart go out. Keep it alive. Serve the Lord.
When you hope, be joyful. When you suffer, be patient. When you pray, be faithful.
Share with God's people who are in need. Welcome others into your homes.” (v 11-13, NIRV)
When the fire in our hearts stays lit, the world comes alive with the light of God shining through us.
The self- care practices I am learning, and that I hope you are too, then become a way of stoking the fire, keeping the flames of life, love, mercy, and service burning, even in dark nights of the soul.
So take time this day and this week to care for yourself so that your light may shine!
With you on the journey,
Amy
https://thriveglobal.com/stories/13-surprising-signs-of-burnout-you-may-be-missing/
Do any of these sound familiar?
I have just returned from a clergy conference on the subjects of Personal Growth and Self Care. When this article was shared, the surprise in the room was palpable.
We were all mostly familiar with the well-known symptoms of burn-out: tiredness, frustration, stress, anxiety, etc.
But this list included symptoms I had never connected with burnout: exhaustion even after a good night’s sleep, making careless mistakes, and unexplained pain.
For me, this list made me aware of times that I was experiencing burnout and hadn’t realized it. The time in college where I was consistently tired? (probably due to strained family relationships and studying for the LSAT). The full set of glasses I broke in the 3 months after my son was born? (definitely due to lack of sleep and exhaustion). The recurring shoulder pain when I was working at the hospital? (most likely associated with the emotional and spiritual heaviness I was experiencing on a daily basis).
Did any of these resonate with you? If so, there is no shame, no judgment; only grace.
Think of these symptoms as signs, signals that something is awry in your body or work or life. Like a fever when your body is fighting off an infection, we can’t just correct the symptom itself, we must look deeper at why these symptoms of burnout are occurring. What needs to change to get back to a place of health?
Thankfully at this conference, we also discussed ways to address the burnout that these symptoms can signify.
Specifically, we talked about ways to care for our Bodies, Minds, and Spirits.
Here are a few suggestions:
1. Body
- Sleep!
- Eating Healthy
- Regular Exercise
- Regular Checkups
- Vacation
- Reading (Theological/Spiritual or other)
- Counseling/Therapy
- Podcasts
- Educational opportunities
3. Spiritual
- Regular Devotions
- Sabbath Keeping (Genesis 2:1-3, Exodus 20: 8-11)
- Practices of prayer, meditation, reflection, scripture reading
- Worship
- Communion
Of course this is not an exhaustive list. Each of us will have particular, unique ways that we recharge and stay grounded and healthy.
We do these practices not just for our own care (though that is incredibly important). We also care for ourselves, so we can care better for others.
Our recovery work can and will burn us out, if we let it.
But if we maintain practices that preserve our whole selves, we will not burn out, but burn bright for God.
I think of the section in Romans chapter 12 that says:
“Never let the fire in your heart go out. Keep it alive. Serve the Lord.
When you hope, be joyful. When you suffer, be patient. When you pray, be faithful.
Share with God's people who are in need. Welcome others into your homes.” (v 11-13, NIRV)
When the fire in our hearts stays lit, the world comes alive with the light of God shining through us.
The self- care practices I am learning, and that I hope you are too, then become a way of stoking the fire, keeping the flames of life, love, mercy, and service burning, even in dark nights of the soul.
So take time this day and this week to care for yourself so that your light may shine!
With you on the journey,
Amy
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