The silent burnout of success.
You’ve mastered the art of achievement. But does your life still feel like yours? I’ve had the experience, more than once, where although I loved what I was doing career-wise, it felt as if my work was governing my life. Almost as if there was no room in it for me. What amazed me was that it took a period of time for me to notice. I never noticed it immediately.
It was only once I realized I hadn’t seen any girlfriends in weeks. I hadn’t gone out to eat, gone to the movies, or sat down with a glass of wine and just talked to and laughed with friends…
Only once I noticed could I then say “How, when and why did I get here? And, yet again…”
Fortunately, or unfortunately, I realize many leaders mistake momentum for meaning. The fact that I was getting so much done, so many emails eliminated, follow-throughs completed, articles published, meetings attended, podcasts completed, new clients on-boarded, even my office cleaned up and organized, it all felt great, yet it was too much…
I know well the term “over-achiever.” It was, and can be, a way of life. Our bodies, relationships, and souls reveal when ambition turns into addiction whether we notice it or not. It happens subtly, easily, and without notice. “Just this one thing.” “Once this project is completed.” I had spent days so relieved my rebranding, which is so fantastic, was done. https://meetdrdorothy.com/ was complete and I was thrilled with it. My latest project, https://quantum-leadership-28uscku.gamma.site/, was up and running and ready to be on repeat and repeat allowing me to teach again, which I absolutely love.
However, with those completed I then realized my Leadership Self-Assessment tool no longer reflected my branding. Oops, I need to get that done which means I need to get this other thing done so that there is consistency…. See how it goes????
It was at that moment, that I completely saw the unraveling. True evolution begins the moment success no longer feels like fulfillment and we acknowledge it. Rather it was feeling like pressure. So close and yet so far and so very fleeting. After this next completion I’d be there…
A powerful reflection prompt: “If I stopped striving tomorrow, what part of me would finally exhale?” Remember the movie “Waiting to Exhale”? It’s here. What’s your response? What part of you would be infinitely grateful?
If you can’t find a way out, give me a call to discuss. I truly understand. I’m over here now. So grateful for the wake-up. Success is so much better when it is balanced. When there is room in it for us. Our health, emotionally, spiritually, or physically, becomes the wake-up call if nothing else works. Don’t pay that high a price.
