Charlie Boyer, Editor

QUIPS & QUOTES. Here are a few thoughts to lighten your day:

The grass may look greener on the other side of the fence, but it still has to be mowed.
The right angle to approach a difficult problem is the “try-angle.”
He who buries his talent is making a grave mistake.

THE ELEPHANT. Have you heard the old story about the three blind men who were trying to describe how an elephant looks? One took hold of the tail and thought that the elephant was long and slender. Another grasped the trunk and thought the elephant must look like a snake. The third man wrapped his arms around one of the elephant’s legs and thought the animal must be built like a tree trunk.

Well, there are many variations to this old story, but what it shows us is that we often get mistaken impressions based on our own limitations. Sometimes our perspectives limit our opinions, sometimes our careers, sometimes our belief in what we can accomplish. How many times do we think we have seen the whole elephant, only to later discover that we’ve only touched the trunk?

I’m not much of a mathematician, but I do know that “Elephant” equals much more than “tail plus trunk plus leg.” What’s your perspective of the “elephant” in your life?

BURNOUT – Are You At Risk?
A condition known as “burnout” seems to afflict many of us these days. If you are among these groups of people, you are at risk: ministers, physicians, nurses, teachers, psychologists, professors, administrators, caregivers, police, fire fighters, social workers, employers, employees, graduate students, teenagers, married people, single people, civic volunteers, and . . . In other words, we are all at risk.

Burnout has been defined in many ways in numerous research reports, articles, and web sites. Some of the most commonly used descriptions state that burnout it (1) a result of persistent negative stress, (2) an imbalance between needs and rewards, and (3) a state of mind that afflicts people who work with other people.

Burnout is insidious – it can come on slowly and sneak up on you. Once you get it, burnout can be as difficult to overcome as a stubborn virus. Here are some possible signs of burnout – have you experienced any of these?
· Feelings of fatigue, of being overwhelmed, overstressed
· Loss of enthusiasm, feelings of helplessness
· Emotional numbness, feelings of guilt
· Dissatisfaction with your own accomplishments
· Feeling unappreciated, frustrated

BEATING BURNOUT: You can overcome burnout. There really aren’t any short cuts, and it can take some time and commitment. But it is so vitally important to your own well-being that it is well worth your best efforts.

Five Steps to Beating Burnout: There are many more ways, but here are just a few suggestions:

1. Know yourself and your capabilities.
2. Develop your talents and strengths.
3. Seek encouragement, support, and love.
4. Do something you really care about.
5. Laugh.

And here’s an extra: Believe you will succeed. Why listen to those who tell you it can’t be done? Did you know that, according to the principles of aerodynamics, the bumblebee can’t fly? It’s a good thing nobody told the bee that he couldn’t!

If you’re someone nearing burnout who is ready to re-start your pilot light, but can’t find the spark, call Charlie at Infinite Perspectives for a complimentary coaching session!

NEXT MONTH: Do-It-Yourself Jailbirds . . .

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