I don’t recommend it to anyone, yet I wouldn’t be where I am today had it not been for burning out. I heard somewhere that life will always try to get your attention before it snatches your attention away. Away from what no longer serves you. Apparently, I am a stubborn learner.
In 2008 when I first burnt out, what had to be left in the ashes was my hard drawn lines in the sand of how I earned my money. At the time I worked in excess of 60 plus hours a week. Leaving pre-dawn coming home late nights, endless pots of coffee, ridiculously sporadic sleep habits. All because my mindset believed in trading hours for dollars.
Until my adrenal system took a hit. It took me six weeks to recover and convince myself what I knew to be true…was not. The work itself I loved, but working for someone else on their dream, no longer served me. But I ignored it because I was still willing to trade hours for dollars.
Eight months later almost to the day, it happened again. A panic attack on the way to the job that I knew was no longer for me. Did I mention I was stubborn? Three weeks later I resigned, no longer could I trade hours for dollars.
Granted I am still rebuilding and it hasn’t been easy. I’m nowhere near the place I envision myself to one day be, not sure that’s the point (for me) of this whole journey. Since then I’ve continued to let go of what doesn’t serve me. Some a natural evolution of making one good choice after the other, aligned with what truly suits me. Other times my stubbornness has again required a louder lesson in a different area of my life.
Each time leaving me better off than I was before, once I ask myself where is my mindset and what am I willing to trade off for it?
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Photo by Abbie Bernet on Unsplash