Breaking Free from Burnout: Rediscover your Passion & Purpose

By: Angel Carlton Anderson

Ever get to that point in life where nothing you’re doing seems to fulfill you?  Do you find yourself starring into space as if boredom has become your natural state of being?  Are you having trouble waking up in the morning only to take on another drab and dreary day. Yep, sounds like you’ve got a bad case of BURNOUT.

Let’s take a deeper look at this thing called burnout and where it stems from because we all strive to get to a comfortable place in life where we have no worries and are not overworked.  We have put in a lot of effort to get where we are and deserve to relax and live a stress-free life, right?

Let’s be honest, those boring “comfort zones” are nice for a while, but this comfy and content place in life, my friends, is where burnout creeps in.   Don’t get me wrong, we have gone from the pause of the pandemic to a rapid pace of busyness. And this is not to say you’re not filling your time with worthwhile ventures…but if they were really worthwhile, you most likely would not be feeling burnt out. Let’s face it, if we were challenging ourselves, pushing the limits of our potential and thriving in every aspect of life, burnout would not be an issue.  It’s only when we sit back, kick our feet up, fill our time with distractions, and put our life mission on autopilot that we become comfortable with the status quo.  

Burnout is not just a state of mind, it is more than likely a personal growth issue.  Sounds kinda crazy to think being burnt out at work has anything to do with your evolution, but trust me on this…let’s say your “higher self” is trying to tap you on the shoulder as if to say, “Dude, what you’ve done so far is great, but this is not fully what you came here to do and you know it.  Your feelings are an indicator…a directional sign… toward becoming something greater.  It’s time. Ya gotta trust me on this.”

Burnout is a merely a wake-up call to take a deeper look at your life and how you are living it…otherwise, why else would we feel that sense of unfulfillment?  We are being called to not just DO more, but BE more…utilize more of our potential, our creative power and natural gifts.  Not just do a job but transcend into your next best self.  We cannot accomplish this kicking back in our comfort zones.  Growth seldom occurs in that space of security, predictability, and safety.  Complacency can be a real passion killer if we let it go too far.

So, let me ask you this, what is your passion, what comes naturally to you?  Because if you’re feeling burnt out, likely you’re being called to step up your game and tap into some unused talent.  It’s time to stop procrastinating, set aside laziness and step into a greater version of yourself…it’s what you’re being called to do, in whatever that looks like for you. Improve just one aspect of your life…big or small…and watch it spill into the areas where you feel burnt out:

• If work has got you down, begin an exercise program…this will stimulate the mind and many times, work ideas will flow during bodily movement.
• If you feel lousy physically, take on a new creative hobby…this sparks the brain and when your brain is activated, you will feel more energetic.
• If you’re feeling sad in your personal life, join a meet up group, church or social…connection is very healing, and a simple smile can be a powerful prescription for the burnout blues.
• If your relationships feel stagnant, then add some spark to your romance, maybe getting more creative in your dating agenda.
• If you’re feeling lack or like you’re not giving enough, find ways to do an act of kindness a day – if you have it to give you are more abundant and prosperous than you think.
• If burnout is caused by being overworked, then dedicate some time off for self-care…being too proud to admit you need a break won’t help improve your state of mind.

Remember, life begins just outside of your comfort zone.  You feel it’s time for a change and with change comes some discomfort.  Well, it’s time to get comfortable with the uncomfortable…this seems to be our new normal, doesn’t it?! The time has come to take some control back, set some boundaries for yourself, and make a plan.  These are some things to keep in mind when doing so:

• Value your own time…it’s the only commodity we cannot get back…monitor your distractions that steal your time and discipline yourself to do something you actually love. (I know, what a concept, right?)
• New experiences awaken the unstimulated brain – challenge yourself to do something new and step into the “unknown”…your spirit will be uplifted and reward you in ways you can’t imagine.
• Even though burnout can make you grumpy, do your best to be kind to those around you…everyone is experiencing some form of challenge in their life so find that commonality though kindness.

Burnout is a call to action to step out of your comfort zone and see your life through a new lens.  Becoming the observer of your life and developing a keen self-awareness will make changes easier to navigate.  It helps to identify the root cause of your burnout.  Begin by asking yourself:

• Are you being the best YOU you can be?
• What is that highest greatest vision you have of yourself? 
• Are you utilizing the natural gifts you came here to use?
• What is something you enjoy that you’re not doing enough of?
• Are you helping others in some way?
• Are you being generous enough?
• Are you limiting yourself in any way?

Take time to self-evaluate your state of being (mentally and emotionally), then excavate those limitations (beliefs, behaviors, or attitudes). Give yourself some time to heal because burnout doesn’t just happen to you out of the blue…although it feels like it’s coming out of nowhere. Burnout is a process of being comfortable for an extended period of time.  Burnout means it’s time to mix things up…like a snow globe…nothing happens until you shake it up…it only becomes interesting when we do.  So, shake up that snow globe of life, make those necessary changes, and see for yourself how everything falls into place.

Angel Carlton Anderson is a Transformational Speaker, Published Author of multiple personal development books, and Facilitator of Transformative Learning.  To learn more visit:  TransformwithAngel.com.