Catalyzing high achievers (aka over achievers) to reach their potential and make a difference in the world...without losing their soul.
You are what you do: true or false?
Published 4 days ago • 1 min read
Most people think spiritual dryness means you need to try harder or recommit to old practices, but sometimes, it’s your soul's way of telling you it's time for a change of direction.
This week, I'm exploring the SPIRITUAL dimension of burnout.
Which ONE of these statements resonates with you the most right now?
"I know who I am beyond what I do or produce."
"I feel connected to a higher purpose or calling."
"I often wonder if my life has any real meaning."
"I feel spiritually dry, disconnected, or cynical."
"I have margin in my life for rest, prayer, retreat, or stillness."
Two years before transitioning from a twenty-year career as a minister/pastor, statement #4 crushed me. I felt bored, disconnected from myself, and growing more cynical by the day. I was spiritually suffocating in the role that once gave me life, and I had a growing sense that it was time to make a shift, but I didn't know what to do.
Until after a two-month sabbatical in 2022.
A picture from my sabbatical - The Old Stone Church in West Boylston, Mass
When the dust settled, I could see clearly—and I knew I needed to move on from the church I started and led for fourteen years. Before the sabbatical, that was hard to come to terms with. Honestly, I thought being a minister/pastor was a lifelong vocation for me. But I knew, if I continued, it wouldn't be healthy for me or the people I was leading.
My heart had moved on.
There was much doubt, uncertainty, and fear I had to overcome in the process, and a lot of feelings to untangle. The hardest part wasn't leaving—it was admitting to myself that a dream had died, and what I thought would be a lifelong calling wasn’t. Now, on the other side, I can honestly say that things are better than I could have imagined.
Let's be clear: spiritual burnout isn't just about needing more quiet time or another prayer retreat. Sometimes it's your soul's emergency signal that you've outgrown your current path.
Would you take a minute to answer this ONE question? Your input will help shape an assessment that addresses not just the symptoms of burnout, but the deeper identity issues that often fuel it.
