What is Burnout, Really?
Burnout isn’t just exhaustion—it’s what happens when something you once loved begins to feel heavy, frustrating, or even pointless. It creeps in when joy gets replaced by pressure. You start something because it lights you up, but over time, you unknowingly attach conditions to that joy—expectations, results, recognition—and those conditions slowly steal the spark.
Maybe you loved your job at first. It felt fulfilling. But now, you only feel good when you get a raise or a promotion. When that doesn’t happen, you start to resent what you once enjoyed. That’s conditional love—loving something only if it meets your new terms.
Relationships do the same. You fell in love with someone because of how they made you feel, who they were. But then it becomes about what they do or don’t do—expectations replace appreciation, and the love begins to fade. Not because it’s gone, but because it got buried under conditions.
Even with hobbies—like playing a sport—you start because it’s fun. You loved the feel of the ball, the sounds of the game. But as you get better, stats and wins become the focus. When those don’t come, you burn out—not because you stopped loving it, but because you forgot why you started.
So if you feel burned out, pause. Go back to the beginning. Remember the feeling, the simplicity, the consistent love that started it all. It’s still there, waiting for you to notice it again. That’s where the spark lives.
If this reached you or there was something that truly resonated with you, please like and share in hopes this will maybe reach someone that it could help.
-Coach Mike
EDIT your GOALS
Every
Day
Internal
Thoughts
Guarantees
Our
Absolute
Life
Situations
#burnout #theend #reminder #bemore #love
Background Picture by
Toomas Tartes
Burnout isn’t just exhaustion—it’s what happens when something you once loved begins to feel heavy, frustrating, or even pointless. It creeps in when joy gets replaced by pressure. You start something because it lights you up, but over time, you unknowingly attach conditions to that joy—expectations, results, recognition—and those conditions slowly steal the spark.
Maybe you loved your job at first. It felt fulfilling. But now, you only feel good when you get a raise or a promotion. When that doesn’t happen, you start to resent what you once enjoyed. That’s conditional love—loving something only if it meets your new terms.
Relationships do the same. You fell in love with someone because of how they made you feel, who they were. But then it becomes about what they do or don’t do—expectations replace appreciation, and the love begins to fade. Not because it’s gone, but because it got buried under conditions.
Even with hobbies—like playing a sport—you start because it’s fun. You loved the feel of the ball, the sounds of the game. But as you get better, stats and wins become the focus. When those don’t come, you burn out—not because you stopped loving it, but because you forgot why you started.
So if you feel burned out, pause. Go back to the beginning. Remember the feeling, the simplicity, the consistent love that started it all. It’s still there, waiting for you to notice it again. That’s where the spark lives.
If this reached you or there was something that truly resonated with you, please like and share in hopes this will maybe reach someone that it could help.
-Coach Mike
EDIT your GOALS
Every
Day
Internal
Thoughts
Guarantees
Our
Absolute
Life
Situations
#burnout #theend #reminder #bemore #love
Background Picture by
Toomas Tartes
