Leah Weiss, a compassionate leadership educator at Stanford, shares her insightful journey through burnout despite her seemingly fulfilling career. She unveils how burnout can disguise itself as purpose and the critical need for discernment and community support. Leah emphasizes the importance of recognizing burnout's signs and the distinctions between burnout and compassion fatigue. Through her personal narrative and experiences, listeners learn about the intricate balance between work, personal values, and the significance of fostering psychological safety in teams.
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Burnout in Meaningful Work
Leah Weiss experienced burnout despite working in a meaningful role at Stanford and having extensive spiritual practice.
Her mentor helped her recognize her burnout, leading to crucial self-reflection and change.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Use Physicality to Ground Yourself
Engage in embodied activities like cooking, knitting, and walking to ground yourself.
Use these physical practices to transition from mental overload and support self-care.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Discernment Requires Community
Practice discernment in community rather than alone to gain clarity on career and life questions.
Sharing decision-making with trusted others reduces isolation and supports better choices.
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The Tao Te Ching is a central text in Taoist philosophy and religion. It consists of 81 brief chapters or sections that discuss the nature of the Tao, which is described as the source and ideal of all existence. The text emphasizes living in harmony with nature, the importance of simplicity, humility, and the interconnectedness of all things. It critiques unnatural actions and social activism based on abstract moralism, advocating for a life of 'nonaction' (wu wei) and spontaneity. The text has been highly influential in Chinese philosophy and has been translated numerous times, making it one of the most translated texts in world literature[2][3][4].
What if the very thing that gives your life meaning is also what's burning you out? That's the paradox. Leah Weiss found herself in teaching compassionate leadership at Stanford. Working with organizations inspired by the Dalai Lama. Doing the kind of work most of us dream of. And yet she was falling apart. In today's conversation, we unpacked the silent erosion of self that can happen even when everything looks right on the outside. Leah shares how burnout crept in under the guise of purpose, why discernment can't be done alone, and how the small act of knitting helped her find her way back to herself. This episode is a map for anyone wondering is it me? Is it the job or is it the world we're trying to survive in?
Key Takeaways:
The issue of burnout, particularly in the workplace.
Personal experiences and challenges related to burnout.
The importance of recognizing signs and symptoms of burnout.
The concept of discernment in addressing dissatisfaction.
Distinction between burnout and compassion fatigue.
The role of community and support in navigating burnout.
Factors contributing to burnout at individual, team, and organizational levels.
The significance of psychological safety and team dynamics.
The search for meaning and alignment of personal values in work.
The impact of entrepreneurship on well-being, particularly for women founders.
If you enjoyed this conversation with Leah Weiss, check out these other episodes:
The Tao Te Ching is one of those books I keep coming back to. Ancient wisdom, wrapped in poetry, that somehow feels more relevant every year. Like this line: “If you look to others for happiness, you will never be happy. If your well-being depends on money, you will never be content.“Simple. Clear. Actually useful.I’ve teamed up with Rebind.ai to create an interactive edition of the Tao—forty essential verses, translated into plain, everyday language, with space to reflect, explore, and ask questions. It’s like having a conversation not just with the Tao, but with me too. If you’re looking for more clarity, calm, or direction, check it out here.
The One You Feed 