2024.05.21

---

High-ambition, mission-driven leaders are at risk of burnout throughout their careers. They care deeply about using their professional skills for making the world a better place and can get swept along in the hustle and grind of making meaningful work happen day in and day out.

Burnout is an issue that we like to blame on external causes … unreasonable workload, too many competing priorities, insufficient resources, the systems that be, etc. And we won’t deny that those things have a role to play.

However, for any of the organizational or systems factors to persist, there is a personal culpability. And it’s not what you think.

At the heart of the matter, one simple concept dictates whether or not you are headed for burnout.

And even though we are actively taking steps to work and lead from a place of vibrant energy, it’s easy to overlook some of the choices that we make that turn into the subtle precursors of burnout.

---

A Dysfunctional Progression: Compromise – Neglect – Abandon

The seeds of burnout are planted when we engage in tiny Compromises of the Self.

This happens with a seemingly small degree of de-prioritization of our needs, our values, or our purpose. We might think we are making a temporary tradeoff, rationalize away any small misgivings, or just tune out our inner knowing in order to make the compromises.

Over time, compromise gives way to Neglect of the Self and the symptoms of depletion become increasingly visible and numerous.

Stress, not eating well, not having energy for being present with our loved ones, feeling tired or irritable, and just not enjoying our jobs and our lives. Again, we rationalize and justify our decisions and actions that are in conflict with meeting our needs, honoring our values, and living our purpose.

Unchecked, this neglect becomes Abandonment of the Self, and that is what full-blown burnout truly is.

We are so out of alignment with our true Self that one or more of our systems revolt – physical, mental, emotional, existential – and demand that we pay attention.

---

Self-reverence as the Antidote to Burnout

With self-compromise, self-neglect, and self-abandonment the progression into burnout, the antidote also involves the Self. Self-reverence.

You’re familiar with the term reverence – a feeling or attitude of deep respect, honor, and esteem that’s tinged with awe.

Self-reverence is feeling that way about yourself.

Self-reverence and burnout are completely incompatible.

They are in fact mutually exclusive. If you are being Self-reverent, you cannot get burned out. It is impossible.

From a place of Self-reverence, you make very different choices than when you discount your Self in favor of others. Because you’re in integrity with your Self first, and are meeting your needs, honoring your values, and living your purpose, you’ve also got more energy to be of service to others.

So, counterintuitively, having Self-reverence in practice actually results in us being more compassionate to others.

Which is kind of fantastic!

Self-reverence doesn’t mean you don’t ever push hard or get tired or avoid any kind of conflict or emotional pain. That’s part of the human experience. But sometimes it does look like holding healthy, strong boundaries even though it upsets someone else.

And it can be trial and error to figure out what Self-reverence truly looks for you.

It’s easy to start though.

Going forward, get in the habit of asking yourself is this the choice I’d make if I were Self-reverent?

---

---