A Path for Restful Changemaking:
I’m not shy about my story of burnout while having my life revolve around changemaking. But how did I move out of that onto a more restful and sustainable path for changemaking? For those looking for some guidance to pivot the way they engage in making a difference, here are some steps to begin restful changemaking.
First, in the Phases of Rising Up, know that the last two phases are essentially a path for sustainable changemaking. If you haven’t downloaded that free guide, I highly recommend you start here! These steps are just the whipped cream on top!
Also, remember that we each have our own journey to go on. What helped me, which I share in the steps below, might be different than what you need. Keep this in mind as you begin taking steps towards a different way of doing good. This being said, let’s start from the beginning of pivoting out of very unhealthy changemaking–for me it was being largely burnt-out. Where can we go from here?
1. Make Processing Space
If we don’t have space to process and considering where we are going, we tend to not change. When I first burnt-out, I scheduled a few months of maternity leave. This gave me the space I needed to begin rethinking my life and approach to changemaking. A year later, I took a sabbatical. “Space” can be just a concept that is determined or it can actually be literal–designating a location and time for processing.
2. Ask for Accountability
Most of us don’t get far in life without accountability (which is why I practice coaching!). Whether it is a coach, therapist, parent, pastor, partner, friend, or family member, ask people who care about you and your needs to be your biggest cheerleaders in your commitments to change. Even if you just ask someone what they see in your life, and begin processing it with them, you will find it valuable.
About a year after taking maternity leave, my friends encouraged me to take a year sabbatical to heal, recalibrate, rest, and invest in my family. I don’t know if I would have followed through with this commitment without knowing they might ask me about it. I needed these relationships to keep me committed to changemaking in a new way, especially after I took the time to rest and heal.
3. Determine Boundaries of Distance
What really helped me pivot my changemaking was starting over. This type of space is extreme and wasn’t just the idea of “I’m taking space.” Creating physical distance can be a necessary boundary.
Thankfully, in my case, we had to move. In a six-week rapid trip, we moved from the East to the West coast and I had to restart from scratch. But I needed this hard break. I didn’t yet have the skills or capacity to be involved in things in healthy ways. And it helped me take that sabbatical—I am not sure I would have done this for myself without having this distance. Often, it takes time to build up trust, creating distance by leaving something old and joining something new can give you some buffer room.
On the other hand, once people knew of my experience in our new home, I was still offered immediate opportunities to lead. But having that hard break of distance, plus the accountability of a sabbatical year, set me up to say no.
A few years ago, I also notice I was beginning to burnout again. But this time I knew I needed a sabbatical and knew how to create space for myself. Then, to provide distance, I stepped down from multiple roles and stopped attending orgs I was involved in. It wasn’t a forever “distance,” but it was a significant year or two.
4. Engage in Intentional Healing
I am shocked by how frequently people who are changemaking do not prioritize their own healing. I can’t fault anyone, though, for I didn’t even realize I had areas that needed profound healing. Yes, many of us have childhood wounds, or stories that have shaped us. But in each season of our lives things will happen that hurt us, name us, and try to define us. “Healing” isn’t a one-and-done thing.
Being intentional to have a season of healing is an essential part of becoming a restful changemaker. For example, if I didn’t change some of those beliefs I had—like that I had to be a savior, or that I would never be enough unless I changed the world—where would I be now? Where would those influenced by me be? I am ever thankful for my faith and therapy which has helped me address the things I’ve believed and hurts I’ve experienced.
Too often changemakers stay fueled by rage, bitterness, or get caught in the comparison trap, or maintaining an image. We are much more restful on the inside when we make a difference from a place of wholeness than raw hurt.
There is time for you to heal; you are worth investing in your own wholeness.
5. Learn Systems for Alignment
I regularly talk about Life Mapping because it became so foundational to how I pivoted in that season coming out of burnout and a sabbatical. I needed to know who I was, what to focus on, and create a method to manage my time, create boundaries, and help me address parts of my life I needed to attend to.
I’m sure there are other ways to do this. But I’ve discovered that most people I admire greatly for having vision and with the organization to get there depend on systems that help them. They know how to use calendars. They have people to lean on to balance their weakness, hire assistants, or partner well with their spouses. They have methods to keep track of goals and reevaluate their commitments. They intentionally align with their values. They say yes to what brings them life and what they have gifts in, instead of saying yes to whatever is asked of them. We need to learn systems that work for us.
For me, this was Life Mapping. I feel like it was so foundational to my own growth, I put it into a workbook that you can buy on Amazon to work through or print from pdf.
If you think it would help (I am sure it would), I invite you to schedule a coaching/consulting session with me. Let’s make a plan for how you can best be intentional in your life!
Moving Forward as a Restful Changemaker
Ultimately, no matter how you pivot into restful changemaking, I want you to know that I am thrilled you are even considering it. In the season I pivoted my own changemaking to being restful and sustainable for me, this quote guided me forward:
“Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.” – Rumi
I realize that when I see myself as a learner, growing, and just as valuable as those I serve, I am actually better at serving the world. I become a changemaker more fully alive–which blesses me, my family, as well as others, and causes I care about. Too frequently people known for doing good pour all into something and then burnout, only to leave it behind, leaving organizations and movements hanging.
I encourage you to restart and rise up again! But first, you might have to back off and pivot to become a more restful changemaker.
