The Regenerative Living Shift That Stops Burnout

I lived a sustainable inner life for many years. At least, that is what it looked like. I worked out in the mornings while baking bread in the oven, so I was well-trained, well-fed, and showered when I arrived at work. Groceries were shopped once or twice a week, I had a dinner plan for a week at a time, and I slept 7-8 hours each night. The list goes on. I basically did my best with all the knowledge I had at the time. Like we all do. It seemed perfect, and I was hoping it soon would feel perfect too.

Even though I lived a sustainable inner life in many ways, I slowly burned out. Again.

My sixth and final burnout also involved extraordinary circumstances, yet inner sustainability in almost every aspect of my life did not do the trick.

Inner sustainability means living in accordance with your soul’s calling, balancing your inner well-being with a productive life in which you contribute to the community you are part of.

But this doesn’t cut it if you are starting below zero.

Expensive rates

Let’s say you have spent money from your credit card. You’ve used more than you can afford, so now you’re in debt. But you can only afford to pay the interest on what you owe. So that is what you do every month. You still owe the same amount each month since you only pay the interest.

This metaphor applies to your way of living if you start to live sustainably from below zero. If you begin to live a sustainable life when you are in fact in debt to your health, you will continue to pay the interest instead of paying the amount you owe in full.

Of course, you can live a life in which you continue to pay only the interest rate.

However, I’m guessing that at some point in your life, you will start to feel something inside of you telling you that this is wrong. You will begin to wonder what you are doing. Your system will let you know that this doesn’t sit right with you anymore. It might feel like wearing a too-tight sweater or a pair of jeans that no longer button up.

You do everything right, but it is not working for you.

Regenerative living starts with the soil

Here’s where the word Regenerative comes in. Widely used in agriculture for decades, it is now also becoming a common term in self-development. Meaning that if you allow yourself to regenerate, you live a life from a surplus. You might still have the same routines in your life, but you don’t have to pay the interest rate either.

If we want to grow something, we have to start with rich soil. And you have to let yourself be the soil in your life, so make sure it is healthy soil you offer to yourself.

I am pretty sure that you would never go out into your garden, greenhouse, or field and plant a seedling into shallow soil.

You would make sure that the seedling you have been growing oh-so-gently inside your house, in a temperate room with plenty of light, and a loving watering routine twice a day, would be given the best possible care when moved outside.

Perhaps you had already prepared the outdoor soil weeks ahead. You have watched YouTube videos on “How to get the best harvest” and read books on “Prepare your soil for success”.

And when your precious seedling is well placed in the soil, you care for it like it were a baby.

You are your soil

Why is it that we care more for our kids, pets, and seedlings than we do for ourselves?

Would you consider feeding your dog a MacFeast or filling your cat’s drinking bowl with Pepsi Max on a daily basis?

No, you would not!

Would you say to your kids in the morning before they are off to school, “You are useless, and by the way, you look fat in those jeans”?

No, I’m pretty sure that you wouldn’t be so cruel!

Would you say to your best friend who struggles at work, but is too afraid to apply for a new job, “You have nothing to offer, so you'd better stay put until you retire in 15 years”?

No, you would never consider letting her down like that!

If you care for everyone else’s well-being, how come you don’t care for your own?

Rich soil gives a solid foundation

Acknowledging that my sustainable living wasn’t doing it for me was a tough one to digest, to be honest. I was following every trick in the book, and my life still didn’t work for me? Ouch.

A few years ago, I sat down with my mentor, and I had to examine how I lived my life and take action. Small steps that gave quick results. The so-called low-hanging fruit, I have been teaching others about for years in workshops and one-to-ones.

When setting time limits on social media weren’t enough, I quit using Instagram. Instead, I started rereading books, which I used to do so much of before. The library became my new place to hang out away from the digital world.

Instead of accepting invitations in November and December, when all I wanted to do was stay home after work and cozy up by the fireplace, I politely declined. If you are a Projector in Human Design, you probably love receiving invitations, too. Know that not every invitation is to be accepted.

My health benefited from the actions I took a few years ago. And it made it easier to recognize this fall that something else was off in my life.

I had to take another step back and look at how I live and lead. Something clearly was not working, because my body kept telling me with not-so-subtle signs. I had once again cared for a lot of people, but not so much myself, even though I had continued to do all the so-called right things. I had to acknowledge that I was still paying the expensive rate on my health credit card and make changes accordingly.

When we tend to our soil, we give ourselves the best possible chance of growing a solid foundation. And with a solid foundation in place, we get to give from a place of surplus.

When we choose to tend to our inner garden, we can grow and thrive at the same time. When our roots are thriving, we can ride out a storm, share our reaped fruit, and we can create the ripple effect so many of us long for.

What does finishing strong mean to you?

Regenerative living follows the seasons. I found it both sad and hysterically funny that when November and December come here in the Northern hemisphere, every single business is doing the same: Hustling and bustling to finish the year strong financially, going to endless sales meetings, or booking sales meetings for next year. Meeting the numbers is all that matters.

We are not meant to stretch ourselves thin and run around like the Duracell bunny when the sun sets early.

The darkest period of the year is meant for inner contemplation, learning from this year’s harvest what went well and what we can improve for next year, and resting. We do inner work as well as outer work. We continue to care for our businesses alongside caring for ourselves and our loved ones.

We take a look at the soil and research what is needed to care for it next year.

Opportunities for growth

I hardly ever regret decisions or choices I’ve made in life. I know that every difficulty or life lesson is a possibility for growth. Of course, there are a few lessons I would have liked to learn a bit quicker, but still. Life is too short to have regrets.

This brings me to the soothing words from Maya Angelou:

“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.”
― Maya Angelou

Moving from focusing on living sustainably to creating from a regenerative place within me has shifted how I do and be.

This does not mean that I am an expert. We never are because life keeps evolving.

We are never perfect, and that is not the goal in life either.

Pause and reflect

At this time of the year, take a look at your life from a non-judgmental perspective. Be kind to yourself while doing so. What are you doing and being that makes you want to get up in the morning? What lights you up? What would you like to change for the coming year? How are your roots doing? What low-hanging fruit is right in front of you, waiting for you to pick it and gently apply it to your life?

The next time you are thinking that “everyone else seems to be doing great” or “why can’t I make this work like everyone else is?”, be kind to yourself. You are the leader in your life, and you have the inner resources to make necessary changes.

While sustainable action is great when you are on the surplus side of things, regenerative living is the way to go when you are starting below zero.

Inner Sustainability Is Not Enough