Alan Briggs, founder of Stay Forth and author of 'AntiBurnout,' joins the conversation to tackle the challenges of leader health and burnout. He shares insights on managing back-to-school anxiety and the unique triggers we face. The duo explores strategies for identifying personal needs and forging connections without falling prey to resentment. Emphasizing holistic wellness, they discuss how emotional and spiritual health complement physical well-being. Briggs also highlights finding joy in everyday moments as a remedy against burnout.
Understanding and acknowledging personal emotions is crucial for authentic spiritual engagement and preventing chronic anxiety.
Proactive self-care practices and recognizing personal values are essential in avoiding burnout and leading a fulfilling life.
Deep dives
The Impact of Chronic Anxiety
Chronic anxiety significantly disconnects individuals from their true selves, often leading to a lack of self-awareness. The speaker highlights the importance of first understanding one's own emotions and feelings before attempting to connect with a higher spiritual presence. This self-connection can provide a more authentic and meaningful engagement with spirituality. True spiritual engagement requires acknowledging one's struggles and feelings, creating a richer exchange between oneself and the divine.
Understanding Burnout and its Signs
Burnout is prevalent amongst leaders, characterized by feelings of fatigue and a lack of motivation, often unnoticed until it becomes overwhelming. Signs of impending burnout can vary, with some individuals recognizing the need to slow down sooner than others, depending on their personality types. Questions such as 'When am I not myself?' become vital in identifying personal changes indicative of burnout. Recognizing these signs requires a blend of self-awareness and introspection to prevent crossing into a state of complete exhaustion.
The Importance of Self-Care and Rest
Healthy self-care practices are essential in combatting burnout, emphasizing the need for leaders to take breaks and recharge. The idea of voluntary self-exploitation highlights how individuals may contribute to their own burnout by setting excessive demands on themselves. Furthermore, maintaining awareness of one’s emotional state and managing commitments can alleviate feelings of overwhelm and resentment towards responsibilities. This proactive approach to wellness is crucial in sustaining both personal and professional health.
Pursuing the Good Life
Defining the 'good life' involves recognizing personal values and desires for well-being, which can differ significantly among individuals. It encourages leaders to reflect on their priorities and activities that contribute to their happiness, while also challenging comparisons with others. By focusing on what genuinely fulfills them, individuals can avoid burnout and lead a life that feels authentic and rewarding. This journey of self-discovery often takes time, as individuals may require permission to explore their true desires and aspirations without guilt.
On this episode of Being Human, host Steve Cuss welcomes Alan Briggs, the founder of Stay Forth, a coaching organization that focuses on leader health and sustainable impact. Briggs’s latest book, AntiBurnout, empowers readers to avoid the perils of burnout and offers practical ways to measure one’s own health and well-being.
Cuss and Briggs discuss the back-to-school anxiety that so many families face, how our individual wiring contributes to our unique anxiety triggers, and how to navigate modern political life. Their discussion includes tips and tools for identifying the skills, gifts, and abilities that can lead us away from resentment and toward rest.