Will 2022 be a year of human “being” or human “doing”?

Do you feel and realize your every thought and action with spirit or just move through the motions using your mind? Let’s face it, the last almost two years have sucked in so many ways and burnout may be on the horizon or maybe has already exploded. It’s a new year and with that is supposed to come all kinds of great expectations and new beginnings. This may be hard to wrap your head around after all you have had to endure with COVID and beyond. I would like to encourage you to see 2022 with a renewed outlook. Take a deep breath and close your eyes after reading this next line and say to yourself: “This is going to be an amazing, memorable year.”

YES, it is! Read on to see how……

How does one deal with burnout? Is burnout real? We all have reason to feel it and blame the world for it. However, you have control to avoid it and or recover from it. Herbert Freudenberger says burnout can be seen in three different ways:

·        Emotional exhaustion-fatigue that comes from caring too much for too long, unable to cope, down, and or lack of energy

·        Decreased sense of accomplishment-the feeling that nothing you do makes any difference, find it hard to concentrate, and or lack of creativity

·        Depersonalization-depletion of empathy, caring and compassion, and or starting to feel numb about work/life

According to Drs. Emily & Amelia Nagoski, emotional exhaustion seems to be most prevalent in the professional and personal lives of many people today. Emotions are real just as burnout is. Emotional stress is a cycle that happens in the body. These emotions cause an involuntary neurological response that happens in the body with a beginning, middle, and end. Unfortunately, one often gets stuck somewhere in the middle of the emotional stress cycle further fueling burn-out. You can find yourself moving through the motions of life aka human “doing” rather than human “being”.

We are taught that, if we fix the problem that caused the stress or the emotion, we will have dealt with the emotion—-that is not the case. We still must deal with the feeling. It gets shoved away and held in your body—STUCK/STRESS. I finally dealt with unresolved grief during the height of the pandemic. I finally gave myself space to feel, cry, heal, and let go.

The stress itself will kill you faster than the stressor unless you do something to complete the stress response cycle. Just removing the stressors or ignoring them does not fix everything. You must provide your body with what it needs to complete the stress cycle that has been activated from your day and life. The cycle of emotion from the stress must be felt, felt in your body.

So, what is the most efficient way to move through the stress cycle?

1) Movement! Any kind of movement. Dancing, standing up from your desk, tense all your muscles for a count of 10 and release, take a walk, yoga, exercise…..simply move!

2) Breathing—regulates your nervous system, inspires and invigorates your parasympathetic nervous system— “rest & digest”. The more stress you feel or trauma you have experienced, quietly tune in to your breath. It is not a hippy, yogi thing, is it highly evidence-based in the world of science & well-being. Your breath will carry you through any situation. Your breath is power!

3) Positive social interaction—connect with people who are uplifting. This gives you a sense of connection and provides your body with the language of safety. You must let your body know you are safe!

4) Laughter—deep belly laugh, not the fake ha-ha. Even reminiscing about a time that gave you the belly jiggling laugh from the past has the same effect. Laughing from self-deprivation does not count. Experience a true, genuine laughing moment!

5) Warm hug— a 20-second hug or hug until you feel relaxed. You want to feel the shift in your body chemistry, leaning in and feeling the vulnerability. A hug a day!

6) Big cry—It does not solve a problem necessarily; however, when you allow your body to cry, it allows you to release and move through the stress cycle. Crying is for the strong!

7) Creative expression/imagination—How good does it feel to take what is inside you and allow it to come outside physically or through your mind? Creating something with your hands, your mind, and presenting it outside of you can be so healing. “Take your broken heart, make it into art” Carrie Fisher

I recently experienced a situation that hurt me emotionally and deeply. I gave myself the space, time to feel, and permission to cry. I connected with a couple of dear loved ones who gave me an ear and much-needed hugs. How did I know I had completed the emotional stress cycle? My body just as your body will let you know. I began to feel better little bit by little bit.

Practicing feeling through the beginning, middle, and end of any emotional stress cycle will help protect you from burnout. I encourage you to choose human “being”, living through your spirit with a love-based approach to navigating life. I set my intention for 2022 to be one of avoiding human “doing”, living a fear-based life through my mind. I want to continue practicing completing the emotional stress cycle in my body. I strive to be strong, avoid burnout in my future, and see life through the lens of love for myself and others. Choose human “being” and escape from human “doing” in this new year. Many wishes for an amazing, memorable year in 2022!

Sources:

Brene Brown with Dr. Emily & Amelia Nagoski – Podcast

Herbert Freudenberger: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279286/