Emotional Burn-Out

I don’t usually write on the same topic back to back, but I received a lot of feedback yesterday and this morning from people feeling “Stressed Out” in their lives. So I’ll say it again, “Really, it’s such a demanding time for most of us!”  Ironically, I myself have had a stressful 48 hours, so this helps me more than anyone. Life is just like that – it ebbs and flows beyond our control. If you can roll with it like the ocean tide, then that’s fantastic. However, if you find some hours and days a little harder to muddle through, then you’re in the majority. You are not alone. These are complex, high-impact, non-stop lives we lead!

So, I wanted to look a little deeper into stress – specifically examine emotional burn out. What causes burn out? I read seven different articles and looked at numerous blogs to gain insights into what professionals and ‘regular people’ identify as reasons for burn out.  

 I compiled my Top 6 Reasons for Emotional Burn Out -

Job Pressure:  Co-workers, bosses, unequal work distribution, tension among co-workers, perceived unfair treatment, and feeling overlooked

Relationships:  Loneliness, Inability to let go, Lingering hurt, Divorce, Unreciprocated love, Misunderstandings, and Giving not receiving

Money: Medical bills piling up, Pay scale below par, Needs of children, Loss of job, School debts, Unexpected bill comes due, No opportunity for vacation, Fixed incomes

Family with no money (joking!) Really, I was kidding – just seeing if you were paying attention. I heard a comedienne say that money was a stressor for her – but her family members with no money were her biggest stressors. It struck my funny bone. (I think there might be some truth in there somewhere!)

Lack of Sleep: Inability to fall asleep, Your mind wont’ turn off, Worried about “worst outcome” scenarios, and the Inability to let things go

Poor Nutrition: Coffee overload, Energy drinks addiction, Too many refined sugars, High amounts of greasy foods, Lack of fresh fruits and vegetables.

With ALL of these variables in our lives, it’s NO WONDER we’re often emotionally burnt out! Situations are challenging to say the least.

I recommend the following Biblical principles:

#1: Breathe! Stay focused on the future – not the present. No trial lasts forever. Take a deep breath…let it out. Exhale a deep, cleansing breath. Accept that you may not be treated fairly. Jesus was not treated fairly by the religious crowd. He understands what you’re going through.

#2: Find a “Still Space” Within!  Mark 4:39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. Since Christ was able to calm the RAGING winds and sea…He can certainly still our troubled heart! He can calm our troubled minds.

#3: Talk with God – Pray! 1 Thessalonians 5:17 - Pray without ceasing. When you’re talking to God, you’re not talking to the negative thoughts in your mind. Do not allow yourself to believe the worst about yourself. If you’re a Christian, you really ARE redeemed. You’re a child of the King. Just keep talking to HIM until your unrest settles down. It may take a while. He understands your anxiousness.

#4 Laugh a little! Ecclesiastes 3:4 - A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance  Force yourself to smile, even if you have to force it initially. Smiles are contagious. When you smile, someone else around you will automatically smile. You can’t stay miserable if you smile in the face of adversity. Find SOMETHING to laugh about. Perhaps the ridiculousness nature of a situation. A clean joke. A funny incident. Every situation has a funny side – we just need to look for it. (How about looking at your kids’ photo? A grandbaby picture? A beloved pet photo? Those things will MAKE you smile, right?!)

Part of the quality of our day depends on the quality of our thoughts! Burn-Out isn’t a good idea. Don’t do it!

Look UP my friends!