Growing up long before the aide of the internet and Google, school was all about the color photos in our text books. One of my favorite subjects was science. I loved how the books were filled with vivid color pictures of cells, atoms and of course, outer space. To this day, I never wanted to be an astronaut but I was always taken by the idea of an endless universe. In particular were the Supernova star phenomena. How could something so big, so beautiful and hot reach an epic stage of explosion? Well, I will share just how similar a life without balance and boundaries are to the fate of the Supernova.
When we look at the concept of the Supernova, it is really a star that has accumulated too much nuclear particles and simply implodes from the added stress. As I looked back on my vintage science class years, I remembered the demise of the Supernova began with one of two factors; first when it picks up too many toxic excess from neighboring stars and second when the Supernova itself runs out of nuclear fuel. Sounds familiar doesn’t it? When we look at what causes us to implode and burn out it is usually centered on either taking on too many of the problems around us or just running out of gas in our mental tank.
As I share a few points on keeping your Supernova life intact and avoiding burn out, be honest with yourself and make the necessary adjustments to bring balance to your day.
- Know yourself and your limitations: This is first because it is the hardest. We generally take on more than we can handle because we aren’t realistic about what we can and cannot do. There’s only 24 hours in a day. This means in order to truly serve others, you have to make sure your business is handled first. You will be of no use to anyone if you are on your back due to exhaustion. Get a firm grip on your current obligations and identify when enough is enough.
- Retrain those around you to recognize boundaries: People most often treat us how we train them to treat us. When I hear clients complain about being used and abused my first question is usually about their own boundaries. The key to boundaries is it establishes lines of property. This is yours and this is mine. You can’t be angry at the neighbor who walks across your pretty garden if there’s no indicator of your property line. In life, you have to put up a few fences to let people know this is an area you may not trample.
- Embrace the power of ‘NO’: It never ceases to amaze me how liberating and controversial the little ‘NO’ can be. Nothing helps to expose motives than when someone is told no. I’ve seen friendships end because of it. ‘NO’ means I’ve reached a limit and I have to decline at this time. It’s not personal or a sign of rejection. I have grown to understand that I do not have to feel guilty for exercising my free will to decline your request. In fact, ‘NO’ can be a great sign of maturity that a person is finally thinking and acting for themselves.
Your life may be on a meteoric rise in your business, personal life or even your family. After overcoming trial after trial the only thing that can stop you now is yourself. Burnout is real and affects people more than any other attack. We simply implode and disappear. Take these principles and arm yourself against this self-inflicted disease. Those around you deserve the best, healthiest version of you. Embrace your inner ‘star’ and live well.
© 2012 – 2013, Cherese L. Jackson. All rights reserved.
Cherese L. Jackson is co-founder of New Direction Coaching Associates, an organization dedicated to developing individuals, groups and companies to the core beliefs and visions that make them profitable in all they endeavor.
