Sparking the Fire: Burnout vs. Burndown

I have something I need to admit, but it’s not easy. At least, not for me. I’m the kind of person who puts 110% into everything I do. I won’t quit. I won’t back down.

But I need to be honest with you (and myself). For the past few months, I’ve been teetering on the edge of that dreaded phenomenon so many entrepreneurs face: the dreaded “B” word. Yep, I’m talking about burnout. 

I kept telling myself “Jen, you’re not there yet. You’re fine. You can handle this stress. You’re not a quitter.” I thought I could deal with the heavy workload of being a digital marketing agency owner, a business strategist, a wife, a mother, a friend, a volunteer, and so on. But it was becoming overwhelming.

So I turned to Jesus and I discovered I am at war. Not with myself, though. There’s a bigger enemy here.
Thanks to her book, Fervent: A Woman’s Battle Plan for Serious, Specific and Strategic Prayer, author Priscilla Shirer showed me Satan straight up wants to destroy me. He’s challenging me when I’m at my weakest: exhausted, overwhelmed, overworked, stressed and anxious.

Dear friend, that just lit my soul on fire and sparked something deep inside of me. This isn’t burnout. I’m in a burned down season. Things are on fire around me, but not in a bad way. Think of it as God’s way of clearing out the clutter.

Shine Bright Like a Diamond

Diamonds don’t start out shiny and precious. They begin as cold, plain graphite, enduring intense pressure and even volcanic forces before emerging as dazzling gems.

In the same way, it’s the tough times that shape us! Without challenges, how can we grow into our best selves? When things feel overwhelming, remember the journey of a diamond and keep pushing forward. It’s your turn to sparkle!

Being Tired is Okay

You know me: I go after it hard. I do not like to be held back. For example: I’m currently dealing with a case of strep throat because my sweet daughter believes sharing is caring. That’s on top of every other stressor in my life: the constant worry over my business, creating new projects, meeting deadlines, caring for my family (#KIDS, am I right?) It’s just so much! There’s enough worry and guilt rolled into one.

You’ve also heard me talk about my love of routines and positive habits. I know in order to reach the best version of myself I need to show up and move my body. I wake up early, (like 5 am early) and exercise. 

But it’s getting harder to set the standard. I’m creeping close to that 40 year mark. I’m getting older and things are changing in my female body that I’m not quite prepared for. (Thanks, hormones).

I’m giving myself some grace. I’m no longer beating my body into submission. I know this sounds corny and cheesy, but here’s my new saying: I’m loving my body into submission. Instead of complaining “Ugh – I have to workout,” I’ll twist the wording to say “I GET to workout!”

I’m truly embracing this process of the whole burndown season. God gave me one body and one chance on Earth to do good, spread His light, and fulfill His purpose. I want to honor Him.

“I Don’t Do That Anymore”

Healing doesn’t happen in a straight line, nor does it happen overnight. We are constantly evolving. Because of this, we have to remember: it’s okay to burn down habits or attributes that no longer apply to our current lives. We can break the cycle. 

There’s a little phrase I like to use when I’ve moved on to a different season in my life and I want to focus on the future instead of the past. “I don’t do that anymore.”

For instance, maybe I’m having a (heated) discussion with my husband and his words trigger something in me. You know how this back-and-forth dance goes. It escalates. Well, instead of trying to one-up him or bringing up a past issue, I’ll pause and say “I don’t do that anymore.” I focus on lifting him up instead of arguing. It’s almost as if I’m giving myself permission to say “yep, I’m about to say something I don’t mean” or I’m ready to react angrily.

Even with work, I’m sometimes tempted to fall back into “well, this is how I am, this is how it’s always been done.” Friend, it’s okay to change! Just because a routine has been done the same way for years, doesn’t mean it still works for us now!

We have to be willing to be curious and check-in to see if something is serving us where we’re in life at this moment. Make the change!