Personal Gratitude Prevents Burnout

Multi-tasking when communicating also leads to burnout.

“Rather, the real reason Rabbis, Ministers, and Priests are burning out is an absence of communal thanks and personal gratitude,” (Shmuley Boteach).

In this article, Absence of Gratitude is the Source of Rabbinical Burnout, It ws written December 26, 2011. Rabbi Shmuley says it isn’t the long work weeks that cause clergy to burnout. He cites two other main causes:

(1)  Being forgotten by the people they have sacrificially counselled, taught, and befriended with countless hours and much personal energy.

(2) Forgetting to put their own personal gratitude into regular practice.

I, too, have been negatively impacted by the ingratitude of some. I, too, have been forgotten or even rejected by some that I have poured countless hours into. Yes, that hurts. And it causes me to reexamine why I do what I do.

This is what I come back to. I am here to do God’s work in this church for this season. God has given me a task and a great love for the people I come into contact with.

The truth is they energize me. And most folks love me, support me, and are helping me become a better person by their examples, prayers, faithfulness, and exhortations.

There is something else I need to remember. I, too, don’t always express gratitude. I forget or don’t make time for this life-imbuing act of service. I don’t mean to be this way. I just get so caught up with my own life that I too often neglect the area of gratitude.

I think this is true for most people.

I cannot do anything about the actions or inactions of others. However, I have full control over my actions.

I want to be like the grateful leper in Luke 17:11-19. After he was healed by Jesus, this one leper said thanks to Him. Nine did not.

I want to be more intentional this month about expressing personal gratitude.

Therefore, my November resolutions are as follows:

1. Give thanks to those who love me.
2. Give thanks to those who stand with me.
3. Give thanks to those who work with me.
4. Give thanks to those who have immeasurably enriched my life for the better.

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Gratitude for November 1: Four women from church are helping out in the office for this month because one gal is on vacation and the other gal broke her hip.

The idea for this list came from Rabbi Shmuley Boteach as written in his article Absence of Gratitude is the Source of Rabbinical Burnout,

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Your Turn . . . What do you think about the idea that personal gratitude prevents burnout? . . . What is something you are grateful for today?

Related Posts

1. “5 Reasons I Love . . .” Series
2. Grateful for Boundaries in Five Areas 
3. My ABC’s of Gratitude
4. List of November 2099 Gratitude Photos
5. We Cannot Be Grateful Without Being Thoughtful

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Click on the (more…) button and you can see the links for each Day of Gratitude in November 2012.  _______________________

• Day 1 – Four women from church are helping out in the office for this month because our 2 regulars are unavailable.
• Day 2 – I listed 5 things on this Friday’s Fave Five Post.
• Day 3 – Hearing HOW TO specifically meet some needs of homeless students empowers me.
• Day 4 – Quotes impact me. This one helped me see my world in a different way.
• Day 5 – Time with my niece (E) who let me take all the photos I wanted was today’s gratitude.
• Day 6 – I didn’t notice the extra hour on Sunday, but I did this day.
• Day 7 – My Wednesday work schedule encourages me.
• Day 8 – God heard and answered a prayer through someone who didn’t even know I had a need.
• Day 9 – My life coach is helping me sort out a few things and doing it well.
• Day 10 – I connected with others on Facebook this morning.
• Day 11 – A couple from church purposefully makes me feel like I belong.
• Day 12 – God wants to have an intimate relationship with me!
• Day 13 – I am surrounded by people who help me do my job.
• Day 14 – I meet weekly with my Spanish partner.
• Day 15 – I listed 5 things from this past week on my FFF post.
• Day 16 – I have a sound, creative mind that isn’t overwhelmed by fear.
• Day 17 – My two functioning hands help me in many ways.
• Day 18 – Because I have freedom of worship, I can believe differently and assemble with other believers without danger. 
• Day 19 – A yearly Thanksgiving meal with extended family allows us to catch up and reaffirm our family bond.
• Day 20 – The Neighborhood Meals staff gave their time, energy, & resources so others could have a turkey dinner with all the fixings.
• Day 21 – God has a history of being faithful towards me and family and friends.
• Day 22 – 5 Reasons I am thankful for Thanksgiving.
• Day 23 – Benjamin Rush, an ancestor, followed God with love, dedication, and intelligence.
• Day 24 – Christmas ornament kits were donated to Children’s ministry.
• Day 25 – Couples who purposefully are servants, respectful, and maturing in order to safeguard their marriage.
• Day 26 – Simple, thoughtful gifts can pack a huge emotional punch of love.
• Day 27 – Making memories and then recalling them from year-to-year.
• Day 28 – Crafting is fun, a stress reliever, and is a bonding experience.
• Day 29 – Books in general and books that bring me closer to God in specific make today’s list.
• Day 30 – The month ended with a post of five gratitudes since it it Friday’s Fave Five.