burnout.
Today’s art is “Warm Blood” by Cheyanne Silver.
inspiration
“You will burn and you will burn out; you will be healed and come back again.”
—Fyodor Dostoevsky
contemplation
This week I hit the actual point of burnout. It was clear to me, which betrays how the process of getting to burn out is so sneaky. In some ways, this burnout is due to things completely out of my control: have you read the news? In other ways, this is due to things completely in my control: have you met me?
On Wednesday, I woke up and immediately deleted Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok. I knew they would not help; I could recognize how I was caught in doomscrolling and numbing. Social media can nourish me in so many ways, through friendship and humor, and social media can take energy away from me that I can’t spare.
I wish I had more wisdom for you, but I can’t give you wisdom around this because, well, I’m here. I am fully inside it. I can only wave to you from this space and promise to share anything I learn from this when I have the capacity to think of this as something I’ve traversed. Whenever I feel like I can look back at this, I promise to tell you what I saw with the clarity hindsight provides.
This week I didn’t write a Substack post for my paid subscribers, and I’m really sorry. I just couldn’t come up with words and don’t think forcing it supports you or me. Next week, I had already planned for a week out of the office, so I will not be posting this newsletter or a paid post. I appreciate your patience and grace with me. I promise to show back up to this space after a period of rest.
Speaking of showing back up, I hope to spend some time over the next few weeks dreaming up a little summer book club via my paid Substack community. I’d like to pick a book, write a reflection each week, and include some discussion questions. Subscribers would be invited to either use the discussion questions for personal exploration or share answers in the comments. If you can’t read the book but like the idea, the posts will still offer a jumping off point for reflection! Once I have more clarity about how this will take form, I will share via this newsletter so you know when it starts, what book, etc. but I wanted you to know what’s rolling around in my brain.
In closing, thank you for choosing to receive this newsletter, and if you’re a paid subscriber, thank you for supporting me financially. Each of you have showed me a patience and mercy in these seasons of burn out and it means the world. I send y’all my love.
reflection’
Just do me a favor and try to rest. <3
programs & offerings
〰 coaching—I’m always offering 1:1 coaching, which are weekly packages (4 weeks at a time) and we can begin whenever you’re ready.
〰 spiritual direction—if you’re seeking a spiritual director, say hi if I seem like a possible support for you, so we can discern whether or not we’d be a good fit.
〰 summer reading—as mentioned above, I’m working on a little summer book club through my paid weekly Substack posts. the cost is $7/month, if you decide to join, and you can even go back to the free option when the series concludes. (if you can’t read the book, I promise it’ll still be an invitation into reflection.) I will announce over the next few weeks when the series begins, what book we are reading, etc. so you can decide if you want to join!
〰 speaking—I’ve already made some speaking & event plans for this fall and I have room on my calendar for more! reach out if you’re looking for a speaker or retreat leader and think my work would support your community.
interests & joys
〰 REST—that’s it for right now :)