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Gillian Culff's avatar

So much resonates here! Our workaholic culture is deeply, profoundly sick. I got burned out as a high school teacher and didn't even realize I was burned out until I left. For years after I left teaching, I struggled to find the energy and enthusiasm for work. I had so much self-healing to do. When I returned to a school environment for a summer job, I found the culture the same as I remembered from my old school. You're supposed to work your ass off and put self-care and your own needs last--or not at all. If you don't, you are seen as not caring enough about the students. It's appalling, really, because the students need adults who have it together, and if you're burning out, you are falling to pieces.

The Dan Millman quotation reflects my own experience. I spent years looking to others for answers, but now I look within myself. It took a long time to cultivate that trust in my inner voice.

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Victoria Fann's avatar

Yes, I think most of our culture accepts self-denial as the way things are, and put up with it until they fall apart. I met a teacher a couple of years ago who told me that when she retired she slept for a month to recover from the exhaustion she experienced as a teacher. This is unacceptable but unless we all speak up about it, it will continue. It's no wonder so many people get ill so often these days. This old paradigm of working so hard doesn't serve anyone except those making a profit from our efforts.

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Julie Schmidt's avatar

Thanks Victoria for your post. I agree there is incredible wisdom in the body. Yet we have been pulled away from it, encouraged to give our attention to quantity, production, money, etc. Years ago, I went through a burnout, adrenal fatigue, etc. It eventually brought me back to what matters. It brought me back to my body. It brought me back from an outer focus to an inner one. It brought me back to seeing the intelligence in the body. There is a language there that speaks truth. If I ever want to know what is most important and honest, go there, listen inside...

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Victoria Fann's avatar

You're welcome Julie! Thank you for sharing your experience with burn out. I especially love what you say, "It eventually brought me back to what matters." Burn out is a powerful catalyst that can serve as a reset and reconnection with the parts of us that we've ignored.

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Karissa Symmons's avatar

Really loved this one, thank you for sharing.

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hg's avatar

This is an incredibly insightful read. Yes, the body is very intelligent beyond our understanding, and let's not push it to say no by saying yes to too much.

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Victoria Fann's avatar

Thanks Harini! Yes, we've underestimated the intelligence of our bodies for far too long.

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Good Humor by CK Steefel's avatar

Great advice. Wonderful piece.

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