When Tiredness Sounds Like Doubt ~
My blog was due today, and I forgot.
Life has been moving faster than my spirit can keep up. Between the work at juliemlane.com, the storytelling through 7pedals.com, and the growing projects at empoweringparentsnetwork.org, I sometimes pause and wonder what exactly I am doing with all of it.
There was a time not long ago when it all felt clear. I believed I understood why my life had unfolded the way it did; why the trauma, why the abuse, why the long road through therapy and reflection. I believed God had shown me a purpose for those experiences. The vision felt steady. It felt like something I could build toward.
Tonight, though, I am simply tired. And when I am tired, self-doubt begins to whisper.
Psychologists often explain that exhaustion can distort how we interpret our lives and our direction. When mental and emotional energy runs low, burnout can bring fatigue, cynicism, and uncertainty; even when the work itself still matters. An overview from Psychology Today describes burnout as emotional and physical exhaustion caused by prolonged stress.
Another perspective from Mindful explains that recovery from burnout requires rest and reconnection with personal meaning. Exhaustion does not necessarily mean something is wrong with the work; it may signal that the mind and body need renewal.
I reminded myself tonight of something I wrote in an earlier blog about living life for myself; learning that I am allowed to take up space in my own life and choices. Sometimes honoring that truth means acknowledging exhaustion instead of pushing harder.
Nature teaches this rhythm well. Forests appear quiet during winter, yet beneath the soil, roots continue their slow work. Growth does not always look like movement. Sometimes growth looks like rest.
Maybe tonight is something like that. The purpose may still be there. The vision may still be real. Perhaps this moment is not the loss of direction, but the pause that allows the path to become clear again.
~ julie
If you feel so inclined, please reply with your thoughts.
Note: JM Lane is NOT a mental health professional, nor does she carry a license to practice medicine. Posts, blogs, and content are based on JM Lane’s personal experiences, perceptions, and reflections. By no means does any material convey what others should or should not do.
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