Often when we think or talk about burnout, we focus on the triggers, symptoms, and tools to avoid or manage it. That may look different for different people, and the symptoms may get more extreme if you don’t take a different course of action (i.e. take a break!). These symptoms may be stress (physical or mental), fatigue, trouble sleeping, physical pains, distraction or trouble focusing, and many more.

This week instead of talking about how to identify burnout and what do to when you are experiencing it (because let’s be real avoiding it is pretty unrealistic), I wanted to talk about another symptom of burnout that we often ignore.

When we often talk about our life, career journeys, and lessons learned, we focus on the peaks and skip over the valleys.

It’s natural not to dwell on the challenges we have experienced, even when the most potent lessons sometimes lie in those valleys.

However, whether you are on a peak or valley, you will experience the reverse. Things will not go as planned and there will be challenges, disappointment, and loss. Those challenging times will also pass and you’ll find yourself on the other side as reminded by the saying “This too shall pass.”

Comfortable in the Discomfort

What’s one of the biggest risks to success?