Burnout or Breakthrough: How to Know What’s Really Happening in Your Work Life

As an entrepreneur, I’ve had shifts in my business over the past decades. Yep…decades. And just like my parents as entrepreneurs experienced…some of those shifts were have-to’s, some were nice-to’s, and there were also the next-level-to’s. Not sure that’s how to say it. But you get the gist. LOL

And before each shift…across the board…there were stressors. Challenges. Risks. There were flags. There were opportunities and doors…opened and closed. And just like my parents, I had to learn to recognize if I was going toward burnout, or…if there was opportunity for a breakthrough ahead.

How do you know the difference? I’m glad you asked! Let’s look into that today.

So…

Picture this: You’re evaluating the results in your work.

Maybe you’ve had some successes. Great!

And yet…you’re not feelin’ it. 😔

Maybe you’re short on successes. Ugh.

And you’re feelin’ it. 😩

Either way…what’s going on? Have you hit a wall? Or are you facing a door to a breakthrough?

Maybe you’ve thought:

Is this all there is?
I’m tired of striving. Maybe my pivot is to just quit, and do something else.
What does all this mean? It shouldn’t be this hard.
Okay. I’m about to make a huge change here...somehow.

So…are you facing burnout, or breakthrough?

That edge between burnout and breakthrough can be hard to see, and when you’re at a tipping point, you can fall into burnout without knowing it. Especially when everything feels tangled up in frustration, exhaustion, and uncertainty.

And simply “feeling” like you’re on the right track won’t cut it. Your work is an important life area, and you want to be successful. It’s not to be left to chance, so you need to be clear.

Because another scenario could be that you’re feeling like you’re being called to more. But what does that even mean? 🤔

You don’t have room on your plate as it is. How can you do…more?

(If you need to, review the post about moving from busy to purposeful here.)

Today, let’s get real about what happens when you feel like you’ve been led to a brick wall. And when you get there…you’re not sure if it’s burnout or if there’s a (hidden) doorway to something better.

Maybe...just maybe…you’re about to step into a breakthrough. Well…that’d be awesome, right?

First, let’s get clear on what these two might look like for you.

What is Burnout, really?

I know you think you know…but humor me here. Burnout isn’t just about being exhausted. It’s also about feeling emotionally spent. Like the energy you had is guh-gone, and nothing seems to spark anymore.

According to http://dictionary.com , it is defined as:

fatigue, frustration, or apathy resulting from prolonged stress, overwork, or intense activity.

And it’s also defined as:

a fire that is totally destructive of something.

I find that last one very interesting, because that “fire” within us for our passion…if not kept in check, or on purpose…can be destructive. Wow.

Burnout shows up in all kinds of ways, and not necessarily all at once. It could look like:

You’re dragging yourself out of bed in the morning, even for things you usually love.
Work tasks feel like heavy lifting, no matter how small.
You may or may not have that long to-do list.
You’re more cynical than usual…maybe even resentful about some things.
You feel stuck, like you’re on a hamster wheel that never stops.
You’re questioning not only what you’re doing, but where you’re going…maybe even…who you are!

Burnout can sneak up on the best of us…people who genuinely care about what they do, who are committed to serving well.

It’s like a slow leak that eventually leaves your tire flat.

What is Breakthrough, really?

I know you think you know…but humor me again, okay? Breakthrough isn’t just getting through the obstacle.

According to http://dictionary.com outside of the medical application (and I love all of these!):

a military movement or advance all the way through and beyond an enemy's frontline defense
an act or instance of removing or surpassing an obstruction or restriction; the overcoming of a stalemate
any significant or sudden advance, development, achievement, or increase, as in scientific knowledge or diplomacy, that removes a barrier to progress

BOOM! 💥

I mean! How powerful is that!?

Feeling the difference between burnout and breakthrough

Here’s the tricky part: not every hard season means you’re burned out. Sometimes, the hard season is the exact place you’re meant to be for growth…a time or season that’s more about breakthrough than breakdown.

Here's what I love to remind my clients, and myself:

Just because things are easy for you, doesn’t mean they are meant for, or best for…you.
And just because things are challenging for you, doesn’t mean they aren’t meant for, or best for…you.

So…how does that make you feel?

Burnout drains you and dims your light.
Breakthrough challenges you and calls you forward.

Burnout says, “I’m done…or I need to be.”
Breakthrough says, “I’m being refined. Called. On purpose.”

Burnout feels like you’re being chipped away, or…crumbling.
Breakthrough feels like you’re being changed. Charged. Yes, it’s messy. AND…there’s a spark of hope…even in the discomfort.

Checkpoints to Know Which One You’re Facing

Not sure if you’re in burnout or on the edge of a breakthrough? Here are some simple visualizations with checkpoints to help you see more clearly.

See yourself on your career life area bridge. Maybe midpoint? It’s really hard to tell. You feel like you’ve been crossing 4-eh-ver!

You take a pause. You reflect and express gratitude for your journey so far. I know. Still…be grateful for all things.

How are you feeling? Hanging at the end of your rope, or really being stretched? One allows you to grow.
How’s your energy investment leaving you? You may be feeling completely empty, or is there a sense of, yes…it’s hard, AND…it has an impact that matters? One keeps your vision alive.
Do you sense hopelessness or hope? It’s tough. Yes. Are you holding onto a small thread that’s fraying, of a lifeline of hope that’s strong, no matter how small? One is able to pull you forward.
Are you in survival mode or purpose mode? Are you having thoughts of “just get through it,” or a deep sense that something new is being shaped inside of you. One keeps you on purpose.

Clarity here is everything. Sometimes the simplest questions bring the clearest answers.

When It’s Burnout

If you realize it’s burnout…take a deep breath. You’re not weak or failing. You’re human. What you do next…is critical.

Here are some next steps:

Rest. Let yourself step back and recover.
Reassess. What’s draining you the most? Is it the work itself or the way you’re doing it?
Set and honor boundaries. This is your permission slip to protect your time, energy, and heart.
Get help. A trusted friend, therapist, or coach can help you see what’s really going on, and hopefully walk with you through it.

Remember: burnout is a signal, not a sentence. It’s a flag, not a failure. It’s your body and mind’s way of saying; something needs to shift.

When It’s a Breakthrough

But maybe, after checking in with yourself, you sense it’s not burnout. It’s a breakthrough on your path…and it’s hard.

Here’s what to do next:

Lean in. What’s this season trying to teach you?
Get perspective. Sometimes breakthroughs need outside eyes to see the path or steps ahead.
Take the next step into clarity…even if it’s a little scary. Growth isn’t always comfortable, but it’s always worth it.

A breakthrough is rarely neat and tidy. Rarely comes in a pretty package with a bow. Rarely handed to you. Although it is a gift.

They can be messy, uncomfortable, and require a lot of trust. But on the other side…oh my goodness…you’ll find a level of yourself you might never have known otherwise.

A Spiritual Perspective

If you’re a person of faith, you know that the refining fire is real. Sometimes God uses these seasons to burn away what doesn’t serve us or our purpose, and to strengthen us for what’s next.

He’s not asking you to have all the answers. He’s asking you to trust Him in the process.

Scriptures to stand on:

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds…” (James 1:2-4)
“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” (Isaiah 40:29)

You’re not alone in this. Let that sink in.

Client Snapshot: The Breaking Point > Turning Point > Breakthrough

Let me share a story about a client I worked with, that almost gave up. His name is Jim, and he’s a small business owner, working intently to get his dream “off the ground.” He’s taken the courses…again. He’s purchased the platforms. He’s even joined the masterminds. WAY too much information. WAY too much time on webinars, masterclasses, repeat…stuff…to take in...again.

During our first discussion, I could tell he had the passion. He had the vision. But I could also “hear” that he was teetering on the edge of something. But we weren’t sure what…yet.

He told me, “Deni, I don’t know if I’m just burned out on the whole thing, and need to pivot to something else entirely. Or if this is a sign I’m supposed to push harder, because that’s what others are telling me to do.”

Wait. Hold the phone, mister. You’re headed toward burnout!

We took a step back together. We looked at:

the different aspects of his identity
where his dream came from
how he was working toward it
what he was ignoring to honor it
and what his body was saying back to him…as a result of it.

Turned out, he was ignoring every sign of exhaustion…thinking that if he just pushed harder, he’d “break through.”

I found that the accent was on the first of those two words: break. Because his reality was… he needed more than a moment to step back. He needed time to rest, time to gain clarity, and time to realign.

There was definitely some form of imposter syndrome in there too. Yeah. He couldn’t figure out why doing all.the.things the gurus were telling him felt so…blah. Well, he was not operating in his identity, so discovering who he was, was critical.

He was facing serious burnout. I’m not sure he would have known a breakthrough at that point, if it stared him in the face (as they say).

But this was his turning point. Once he acknowledged that, and did that…in a way that honored who he was and called to BE…the energy he was missing came back. And when his energy came back, he realized…his vision was still alive! And that allowed him to keep walking forward (not hustling and wheel-spinning), on a clear path that was right for him.

The breakthrough he was looking for didn’t come from pushing harder. Not from doing more. Not from taking all the courses…again. Nope. All the DOing was leading him straight to burnout.

Remember that slow leak in the tire? Yeah.

He barely had time to work IN his business. And he certainly wasn’t…BEing in it.

Jim was definitely at a turning point, and it came when he gave himself permission to pause. Look around. Disover his full identity. Check his alignment. Confirm his forward movement in THAT…and NOT in the outside noise and distractions confusing him.

We discovered that he kept getting distracted from where he was being called. We confirmed that he was at a “Y” on his path, not a dead end.

We were confident that he needed to keep moving IN HIS identity and calling. Not someone else’s.

His response? “No wonder everything I've been doing feels so hard!” Yep. There was a relief chuckle after that.

That continued walk forward led to his breakthrough 🙌🏽, and yes…it was challenging, but…it felt more natural to him. It totally stretched him, but he got THROUGH…faster. Simpler. And with better health. Not kidding.

Jim experienced his breakthrough without the burnout, and with an increase in productivity, income, and…peace. 🙏🏽

You can have peace in your work, ya know.

Conclusion

So here’s what I want to leave you with today:

You’re not alone or crazy for feeling what you’re feeling. And you don’t have to be stuck there, either.
Whether you’re facing burnout or standing on the edge of your breakthrough…there IS a way forward.
If you’re not sure what you’re facing, let’s figure it out...together.

As a lifestyle strategist, I help people like you move from the blur of burnout to the clarity of breakthrough…one simple step at a time.

Want to talk about where you are right now? Send me a note about what’s going on for you. I always respond. It’s what I do…toward a breakthrough. 😎