Recover from burnout

burnoutSelf-cultivation is a cure for burnout

Are you great at giving advice to others but not so great at putting this wisdom into action for yourself? You might find that over time, a lack of consistent self-care can lead to “professional burnout.” I have experienced this myself and it’s not fun!
Here is an excerpt from my book, Meridian Massage, Opening Pathways to Vitality:

“We can pretend to give others what we ourselves do not have, but in time everyone will see what is lacking. The practitioner will burn out, feeling that life is unsatisfactory, frustrating, and stressful. Clients will feel unsupported, dissatisfied, and go elsewhere for their care.
Each one of us is called to serve others in different ways, for different purposes. Each one of us must wrestle with our own personal growth to develop professionally and feel a sense of wonder, joy,contentment, and interest in our life path. We have to learn how caring for others can actually serve our own aliveness rather than drain us. When we connect to our work from this deeper place, the ‘work’ becomes a joyful extension of our own everyday life.”

burnoutSelf-cultivation

“Self-cultivation” is a term that grabbed my attention while studying Chinese medicine. Chinese medicine offers many avenues toward balance and health. Acupuncture is just one of those methods. Self-cultivation or self-care is another approach toward vitality and well-being that is encouraged within Chinese medicine. Practices such as meditation, Taiji, Qi Gong, and Dao Yin are all specific forms of self-cultivation. These practices all focus on maintaining abundant and flowing Qi (what is Qi?).
For me, self-cultivation is an on-going practice of self-awareness and self-care.
I notice that the more consistent I am at tending to myself and ensuring that I “fill my cup first,” the better my work is. I am also happier throughout the day. I have realized over time that my main “work” is to attend to the quality and flow of my Qi. As long as I am flowing in harmony with Qi, my work flows easily through me, rather than from me. At the end of the day I may be a little tired, but more often I am inspired, vitalized, and satisfied by the events of the day.
To continue learning, check out the “Relieve Stress” video on demand.

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Cindy Black

Cindy Black is the Founder of Big Tree School of Natural Healing and the author of Meridian Massage, Pathways to Vitality. She is appreciated for her ability to make the complex accessible, fun, and practical.

6 Comments

  1. K'Lynn on April 19, 2016 at 12:07 pm

    Cindy — thanks for the inspiring words — it is so true that you have to be flowing with your Qi if you want others Qi to flow — taking care of ourselves is something we have to do faithfully — thanks for the words of wisdom —

    • Cindy Black, L.Ac., LMT on April 19, 2016 at 12:11 pm

      Thanks for writing K’Lynn
      🙂

  2. Dominique on April 16, 2016 at 9:31 am

    Thank you Cindy for your beautiful words. I too experienced kind of your story, which for me is so true. The more I flow with my Qi, the more Qi flows through me. Yippie for life.

    • Cindy Black, L.Ac., LMT on April 16, 2016 at 10:02 am

      Here’s to flowing Qi! 🙂

  3. Genesis M. Roy, LMT, ISHA on April 15, 2016 at 11:51 am

    This is what I call a Blog that’s right on TIME! Thanks Cindy for all the Knowledge Blessings, it has been said for thousands of years, “My people perish for lack of knowledge” … you are keeping so many well informed in the knowledge of health and healing, one can say the best wealth is “HEALTH” … Blessings & Lots of Love to YOU and your Staff

    • Cindy Black, L.Ac., LMT on April 15, 2016 at 11:53 am

      Thank you Genesis!

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