Joan Webb encourages women to breathe. She knows the stress our constant struggle for perfection can do to harm us, as she notes in this Attitude UPGRADE.
“Have you dreamed of slowing down,” Joan says, “but keep hearing your internal-bully whisper, ‘There’s no stinkin’ way you can do that!’”
Oh my. Joan, you’ve nailed one of my (Dawn’s) personal struggles. And you are pointing us to our true source of help.
Joan continues …
Perhaps you’re one of many in service-related careers or ministries who are on the fast track to burnout.
Just in case you wondering, here’s a good definition of burnout.
Burnout is the type of stress and emotional fatigue that occurs when a series of (or combination of) events in a relationship, mission, way of life or job fail to produce an expected result.
Awareness is an important step in changing this self-defeating lifestyle of overworking, overdoing, over-helping and over-committing.
The following questionnaire can help you identify your need:
- Do you have a difficult time relaxing?
- Are you crankier than you used to be–even though you try hard to keep it to yourself?
- Do you rush from one project to another?
- Are you tired on an ongoing basis?
- Do you feel increasingly depressed, anxious or hopeless?
- Are you increasingly angry and don’t know why?
- Do you spend less time with friends and family or in doing what you previously enjoyed?
- Do you work hard and long, but accomplish less?
- Is life (and/or your ministry) becoming a drag?
If you answered “yes” to several of these, you may be headed in the opposite direction of real life.
I know the prospect of changing is frightening and overwhelming, yet there is a way. Really.
The Bible says, “He [God] gives strength to the weary … those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength” (Isaiah 40:29, 31).
I felt positive that my commitment to hard work would bring me what I desired and was flabbergasted when I ran out of energy, enthusiasm and faith. Disillusioned, I asked: “Is there any hope for renewal?”
“Yes, Joan! Assured my loving Creator. “Though you stumble, you’ll one day soar on wings like an eagle, run and not grow weary, walk and not faith. Trust Me. I’ll renew your lost strength.”
I didn’t feel it or foresee it. I didn’t even have the strength to believe it, but since I couldn’t do it anymore, I stopped trying and left my stuff with God.
Miraculously, when I stopped striving, God took over.
There is HOPE … in the Lord.
(1) Admit your need.
(2) Ask God for guidance and insight.
(3) Seek help and resources.
(4) Take active steps to reshape your thoughts and behavior.
Then show someone you love (preferably a healthy, supportive person!) your responses to the questionnaire, above. Get honest, and then don’t back down.
God honors truth-telling, even if that truth—the reality facing you—feels negative.
There is life on the other side of burnout!
What do you do, where do you go—who do you seek—when you’re experiencing burnout? Have you sought the Lord, the source of hope?
Joan C. Webb is a speaker and author who has written thirteen books including The Intentional Woman (co-authored with Carol Travilla), The Relief of 
Imperfection: For Women Who Try Too Hard to Make It Just Right and a four book devotional series for children. As a Life Coach who specializes in working with writers and communicators, Joan helps set people free to become who they were designed to be and from what holds them back. For more information about becoming an intentional woman, visit Joan's website.
Note: Part of this post is an excerpt from It’s a Wonderful (Imperfect) Life, p. 24.
Graphic adapted, Image courtesy of David Castillo Dominici at FreeDigitalPhotos.net