This post contains recommended links to products and services. While you will not accrue any additional costs to support my blog, I may receive compensation if you purchase these products and services. A special thank you to Farrow Communications and author Jennifer Marcenelle for a complimentary copy of From Burning Out to Burning Bright in exchange for an honest review.
Thirteen months ago, I made the life-changing decision to resign from my job of 16+ years to become a freelance writer. One of the surprising things I discovered (or finally admitted) about myself in the past year is that I work too many hours. I thought I could escape work burnout by working for myself as a freelance writer and travel/book blogger.
I’m sure all you freelance writers, bloggers and solopreneurs are shaking your head as you know that’s not what happened.
Even though I know I can choose when my day begins and when it ends, I keep lying to myself when I say, “just one more thing.” And my husband and son can attest that when I say “Give me 15 more minutes and I’ll be ready,” I’m lying. It could mean 30 minutes or 3 hours.
Case in point: As I’m writing this blog post, my son just said, “It’s break time, Mom.” And I very nearly said, “Just five more minutes.”
I’m an unintentional work martyr. And I’m either optimistic or unrealistic because I tend to underestimate how long something takes. Like it’s a sign of weakness to admit something that should take 8 hours really does take 8 hours.
So I was excited when I was asked to review From Burning Out to Burning Bright: Get your life back by healing your thoughts, memories and emotions by Jennifer Marcenelle.
Key takeaways From Burning Out to Burning Bright
While some of these seem obvious and simple, I don’t always put them into practice. So reading this book and highlighting some key holistic tips, tools and takeaways are helping me raise my awareness as I move from burning out to burning bright.
- The causes of burnout reach far beyond long hours, backbreaking work and managing difficult relationships.
- God’s love is the ultimate healer, regardless of what technology we use.
- God is communicating with us continuously; we just have to tune in.
- We can get access and get in touch with our multidimensional beings with practicing awareness.
- We never forgive harm done to us, but we can forgive.
- Everything is happening to us for our highest spiritual good (everything is a gift).
- Progress. Not perfection.
- Let go of control.
- Disarm your inner critic.
- Take responsibility for negative energy.
- Reframe a negative or stressful situation so you respond rather than react.
- Someone doesn’t make you angry. Rather you interpret what someone says or does as an attack because of past experiences and thought patterns.
- You have to show up every day with a serious intention to take care of your mind, body, heart and soul.
- Take time every single day to feel gratitude.
- Following your heart is not the same as following your emotions.
Letting go of control
This is a big one for me. And something I know I will struggle with every single day of my life. In her book, Marcenelle states, “And the only way to survive would be to hand over control of my well-being to my spiritual guide.”
In my case, God is my spiritual guide. I’ve been following a lot more Bible reading plans that focus on anxiety, meaningful work and trusting God. And it’s as if He’s talking directly to me.
As if? No ifs about it.
When I feel anxious, overwhelmed, stressed, spiraling into a dark place, I’m getting more into the habit of reaching out to God. It’s admirable to say, “I have to trust God has a plan for me.” If I’m honest, even when I say that, I’m not always believing it 100%. For some reason, I tend to think I may have a better plan and I know what I’m doing. So I’m retraining myself to truly trust God and turn to prayer rather than worrying, complaining and losing sleep.
Take responsibility for negative energy
One section where I highlighted nearly every sentence was where Marcelle explains how the causal (memory) body “stores our past experiences and patterns of stimulus and response.”
She describes the causal body as a library where we tend to keep all past traumas stored in a book that we’re forced to read again and again whenever something difficult comes up. I often ask God (when I remember), “Why is this happening? What have I not learned?” And that’s the whole point. There’s something I still need to learn.
Take time every single day to feel gratitude
For those of you familiar with the Gallup Strengthsfinders, I’m an Achiever. This means to find fulfillment; I must achieve something every day.
Every single day.
And it does not matter what heroic efforts, awards or pats on the back I may have received yesterday. Every day I start at ground zero and always have what they call a whisper of discontent. While that’s what drives my drive, it can also lead to unhealthy behaviors.
So to help me maintain healthy boundaries and to reflect on my progress (especially on those days where I felt I never got anything done), I’ve set a reminder on my phone to end my day on writing a list of gratitudes. Not only do I feel accomplished and less stressed, writing down my gratitudes helps me remember to end my day well before 1 a.m.
Remove people from your life
Standing up to abusers, toxic people, awful managers or unkind people is brave and courageous. This can be a lonely path. But it’s the right thing to do. I have no regrets some people have been removed from my life (either by God or me). While I mourned the loss of what was, I do believe it was necessary for my spiritual, emotional and physical health to grow stronger and become a better version of myself.
Access the divine every day.
Love where she writes, “So many of our stresses, anxieties and troubles can be instantly healed if we could only stop, breathe and connect.”
So very true. The Bible verse that I’m connecting with this year is Psalms 46:10. “Be still and know that I am God.” It’s a simple verse and go-to mantra when I start heading down a negative path. It really helps.
And I think that’s why I love watching the ocean or Lake Superior just do its thing. I’m able to pause, be still and connect at a higher level.
My rating
I really enjoyed this book and gave it 4*. I didn’t give it 5* because there are several mentions about reincarnation and past lives. I share this because I don’t want to deter you from reading this book if those beliefs do not align with your spiritual values. I do not believe in reincarnation or past lives, yet I still walked away from this book with a better understanding of my work personality and how it’s not separate, but rather connected with my whole self. A whole self that’s capable of becoming a higher self – a burning bright self – if I follow these healthy holistic tips.
I’d be interested to know your thoughts after you read it. You can leave your comments here or follow me over on Goodreads.
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