A Flame of Purpose Beats Burnout
- Apr 7
- 3 min read
By Michele Jennae
Small Things Create Huge Ripples
We often think of impact in grandiose terms: a big stage, tens of thousands of followers, six and now seven-figure incomes. But impact is relative. The smallest things matter. Every human on earth has an innate desire to be seen and heard for the gifts they bring to the world.
My idea of impact has evolved to understand that small things create the big ones. Anything becomes possible when you consider how a few seemingly insignificant things done consistently can multiply your ripples of influence, eventually forming big waves of impact.
On my personal journey, I have found that I must honor my
Big Dreams while simultaneously being responsible for small steps along the way.
The Influence of Responsibility
It’s vital to consider a healthy responsibility as influence grows, but there is a flip side. With accepted responsibility, influence follows. When you take 100% heart-centered responsibility for the futures you are creating, the influence will come.
Influence and responsibility should co-arise.
Burnout is an Unnecessary Epidemic
Everyone seems depleted of vital energy, and it seems to be getting worse.
You can blame burnout on our work environment, and you’d probably be partially right, but ultimately blame doesn’t help. It keeps you trapped in a downward spiral of helplessness, perpetuating the problem.
In my work with clients, I start with identity. When you know who you are at your core, you are able to recognize your gifts, share them with purpose, and fulfill a larger mission. This identity flywheel of gifts, purpose, and mission, what I call a Blue Flame, generates energy instead of depleting it.
A Blue Flame isn’t a goal to be achieved, though goals are essential when set and pursued with heart. Gifts must be activated, purpose must be practiced daily, and mission demands exchange with the world. Your Blue Flame will spark a divine desire that burns within, waiting for the fuel that only you can bring.
The Little Things That Make a BIG Difference
Women can lead with influence and impact without losing themselves to burnout by remembering four things.
1. Mundane things matter. There’s a reason the Zen Buddhist phrase “Chop wood, carry water” has stood the test of time and has crossed over from spirituality to the business world. Find the blessings in the tasks that seem unrelated to your leadership goals.
2. Obstacles are good for you. Sometimes it seems that the world has gone soft, at least that’s what marketing campaigns would have us believe. The so-called “easy life” is a different kind of burnout. One of dying embers, instead of dumpster fires. Find the middle ground to avoid burnout, by fighting fire with the fire of your ignited Blue Flame.
3. Every decision is made at a crossroads. Life comes at you, and fast. Every moment presents you with a choice. Without mindfulness, you can make decisions without consciously considering the long-term. These short-term decisions only exacerbate the situation. Get conscious and decide in the moment, “Will I take the high road or the low road?” Great choices spiral up!
4. A focus on strengths is natural alignment. Working from your strengths with aligned purpose uses generative fire energy instead of depleting fire energy. Our world-at-large, despite over 5 decades of influence from Positive Psychology, still largely takes a punitive and negative approach, focusing on weaknesses and punishments instead of strengths and adequate rewards. You are not broken.
No woman wants a trophy for a paperweight, devoid of influence and impact. Embrace what matters.
Find your Blue Flame and burn bright!
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