Overcoming Stress Causes Leads to Benefits

I know about stress causes from firsthand experience. Years ago as a leader, I understood about leading others. But when it came to some of the stresses in my own life, I needed to learn lessons about self-leadership.

I needed to take the initiative to take care of myself so I could be in a position to continue caring for others.

When I began to take responsibility for dealing with the stress causes and overload I was experiencing, a number of things happened. I want to take the time to list them for you without comment.

I am doing this because I want you to be encouraged and to know that there is life after burnout. I know my experience isn’t necessarily yours, but there are probably many things that everyone experiencing burnout or overload have in common.

After intentionally beginning to deal with stress causes that were moving me ever closer to burnout I was able to record these new and positive results. It doesn't tell you how to overcome burnout but it does show you why. Here is exactly how I recorded them at the time:

Physical

• Began exercising
• Back aches stopped
• Weekly trips to chiropractor stopped
• Panic attacks drastically reduced
• Go to sleep easier
• Got a better sleep - woke up more relaxed
• More physical energy
• Sporadic and strange aches and pains drastically decreased
• Skin irritations stopped

Time

• Felt like I got weekends
• Felt like I got weeknights
• I had choice about what I could do
• More time to work on projects I care about

Relationships

• More positive relationships showed up
• Mind wasn't preoccupied when with my wife again - totally present
• Mind wasn't preoccupied when with children again - totally present
• Time to enjoy my good friends again

Living Life

• Felt more relaxed
• Able to enjoy a hobby
• Got to join Alice working in the garden again
• Made some long-needed and healthy decisions
• Brought my life into line with the truths I believed
• More personal space - some time to recharge me

Opportunity

• Dreaming about possibilities again
• Got to take what I learned and help others
• Knowledge of overload and burnout
• Excitement of the Lord opening up new doors

Emotional

• More contentment with my circumstances
• Brighter outlook on life
• Felt like my emotional energy was being renewed
• Sense of regaining control
• Relief from the pressure of worry

Your list will be different because you are different. We are each unique. But one thing is for sure. There will be benefits from intentionally making the changes you know need to be made.

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