photo by Jeremy Johnstone

Burnout.

It starts with the feeling you can overcome anything.
It’s reinforced when you overcome a swell of adversity.
It languishes when you thirst for more mountains to climb.
It roars into revival when your enthusiasm brings you to the truly insurmountable.
It laughs when you try.
It grows when you struggle.
It lays roots when you capitulate.
It wins when you’re left with want for nothing.

So what’s the trick to surviving the curse of having great potential and the stubborn perseverance to succeed at all costs?

Having an anchor.
Having a necessary distraction.
Having something that lends purpose to your tireless effort.
Having a goal that means more to you than a dream you plucked out of a hat.

Not leaving yourself enough rope to make a noose with.

The last card in the deck of virtues that you want to be left holding at the end of the game is the ability to dig in and tough out anything. Because you will use it. Repeatedly. Just because you can.

Boundless enthusiasm is best exercised in small passionate bursts.
It’s best if you embrace the spirit of “boundless” without looking for boundaries.